Medvedev Urges Harder Russian Stance on Ukraine’s EU Bid, Warns of “Military Alliance”.
MOSCOW — A senior Russian official has called for a tougher stance against Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union, warning that the bloc is evolving into a military force hostile to Moscow.
Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that Russia should abandon what he described as a “tolerant attitude” toward neighboring countries seeking closer ties with the EU.
“The EU is no longer just an economic union,” Medvedev said. “It can transform, and rather quickly, into a full-blown military alliance … in some ways worse than NATO.”
His remarks reflect growing concern in Moscow that the European Union is deepening its security role alongside the NATO, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues to reshape Europe’s defense posture.
Russia has long opposed Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions, viewing it as a threat to its strategic interests. Medvedev’s comments suggest a shift toward a more explicit policy of resistance as Kyiv pursues closer alignment with European structures.
At the same time, he said he did not expect the United States to withdraw from NATO, though he suggested Washington could make symbolic adjustments, such as reducing troop deployments in Europe.
Medvedev also pointed to internal divisions within NATO, arguing they could accelerate the EU’s transformation beyond an economic bloc into a more comprehensive political and military entity.
The comments come amid continued tensions between Russia and Western countries over Ukraine’s future alignment, with European leaders increasingly linking economic integration with security cooperation.
