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Ukraine NATO access a 'red line': Russia

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Russia regularly holds military drills in the annexed Crimea.
Camera IconRussia regularly holds military drills in the annexed Crimea. Credit: AP

Russia says Ukrainian membership of NATO would be a "red line" for Moscow and that it was worried by talk that Kyiv may one day be granted a membership action plan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks a day after US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin held talks in Geneva.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he wanted a clear "yes" or "no" from Biden on giving Ukraine a plan to join NATO.

Biden said Ukraine needed to root out corruption and to meet other criteria before it could be considered for membership.

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Peskov said Moscow was following the situation closely.

"This is something we are watching very closely and this really is a red line for us - as regards the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO," Peskov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

"Of course, this raises our concerns."

Peskov said Moscow and Washington agreed at the Geneva summit that they needed to holds talks on arms control as soon as possible.

Biden and Putin agreed at the summit to embark on regular negotiations to try to lay the groundwork for future arms control agreements and risk reduction measures.

Russia's deputy foreign minister said earlier on Thursday that Moscow expected those talks with Washington to start within weeks.

He made the comments in a newspaper interview that was published on the foreign ministry's website on Thursday.

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