Former US ambassador to Russia claims Washington 'was lying to Ukraine about NATO bid'

Former US Ambassor to Russia, Michael Anthony McFaul on Friday, May 20 said that Washington has been “lying to Ukraine” about its NATO bid since 2021. At semi-annual Munk Debates, Harvard international affairs professor Stephen Walt was highlighting that throughout 2021, US was cheerleing for Ukraine to join NATO despite Russia’s concerns about defensive Alliance's eastward expansion. Walt underscored Moscow’s Russia’s longstanding opposition to NATO expansion which he stressed poses a threat to Russia’s regional security. 

“In 2021 we kept reiterating that Ukraine was going to join [NATO]. We kept saying that, over and over again,” Walt noted. To this, US ambassor McFaul replied, “Did you believe that?” He n asserted “our [US] diplomats were lying when offering Ukraine NATO membership to Ukraine,” ding “Yes! Yes! That’s real word!” 

ambassor that served in office from 2012 to 2014 claimed that diplomats in Washington have been “lying all time” about NATO membership of Ukraine, dismissing threat to Russian security, and sarcastically ding “yet Russians should trust m.” Walt n questioned US ambassor’s controversial remark, asking wher it was “a common practice” for diplomats like McFaul in Washington to lie or make casual statements. “So our diplomats are lying?” Walt asked McFaul.  “That’s real world,” latter reiterated. 

McFaul’s remarks came as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg claimed in Copenhagen, Denmark that Alliance was “confident that we will come to a quick decision to welcome both Sweden and Finland to join NATO family.” “We are dressing concerns that Turkey has expressed, because when an important ally [like] Turkey raises security concerns, raises issues, n, of course, only way to deal with that is to sit down and find common ground,”  NATO Secretary-General told reporters.

Biden says Finland, and Sweden have ‘full, complete backing’ of US

US President Joe Biden on Thursday this week welcomed Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to White House as two Nordic nations submitted ir membership to NATO. meeting between three leers allowed m "to coordinate on path forward" and "compare notes" on move. Speaking at White House in a trilateral press conference with Swedish and Finnish counterparts, Biden said that Sweden and Finland will "make NATO stronger." 

"It’s a very, very great day. I’m proud to welcome and offer strong support of United States for applications of two great democracies, and two close, highly capable partners, to join strongest, most powerful defensive alliance in history of world," US President Joe Biden said. "Two proud independent countries exercising ir sovereign right all states possess to decide ir own security," he ded. Biden stressed that Finland and Sweden "make Nato stronger." He reiterated that "a strong, united NATO is foundation of America’s security. New members joining NATO are not a threat to any nation. It never has been. NATO's purpose is to defend against [Russian]aggression."