Medvedev Calls for No "Tolerance" Toward Ukraine's Pursuit of EU Membership

SadaNews - Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said on Friday that Moscow should abandon its "tolerant stance" regarding the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union. Medvedev added: "The European Union is no longer just an economic bloc. It could quickly transform into a complete military alliance that adopts an openly hostile stance towards Russia and could become worse than NATO in some respects." He continued: "It is time to abandon the tolerant approach towards neighboring countries' aspirations to join what has now become a European military and economic bloc." Medvedev ruled out the withdrawal of the United States from NATO, but suggested that Washington may take symbolic steps such as reducing the number of U.S. troops deployed in other member states of the alliance. However, Medvedev said that the clear divisions within the alliance could push the European Union to surpass being just an economic bloc.