The Russian Ambassador to the UK called Russia’s entry into NATO “an unrealistic idea” of some political scientists. But it was personally proposed by Putin

It seems that one of those “political scientists” who put forward “unrealistic ideas” was called Vladimir Putin. In March 2000, on the BBC’s Breakfast with Frost, he replied to the interviewer’s question about the possibility of Russia joining NATO:

“Why not? Why not? I do not rule out such a possibility. I repeat, in the event that the interests of Russia are taken into account, if it is a full partner.

“Kommersant” at the same time informed on NATO’s reaction to Putin’s statement:

“In Brussels, Putin’s statement was received very positively. NATO immediately expressed its readiness for partnership with Moscow. When asked by a Kommersant correspondent whether Russia would be accepted into NATO, a high-ranking official of the alliance replied: “NATO is an open organization, including for Russia. In the future, it may well become a member of the alliance – when it accepts the values ​​we preach. There is only one way to do this – through a significant activation of contacts that are beneficial to everyone. First of all, the Russian military working in Brussels should understand this and not run away from us like hell from incense.”

In 2017, in an interview with Oliver Stone included in his film The Putin Interviews, Putin remembered:

“I remember one of our last meetings with President Clinton when he came to Moscow. During the discussion, I said: “Well, what if we look at the option that Russia might join NATO?” Clinton replied: “Well, I don’t mind,” but the entire American delegation was very nervous.”

President Clinton’s last visit to Moscow took place in June 2000.

Apparently, the discussion of the possible entry of Russia into NATO continued after 2000. According to the magazine Time, in the early 2000s, the then Prime Minister of Denmark, later NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, after a meeting with Putin pointed outthat he got the impression that Russia is pro-Western and open to joining the transatlantic alliance. Rasmussen became head of the Danish government at the end of November 2001.