---
title: "Russia stated that it is not its place to dictate whether Ukraine or European countries should join the European Union or NATO."
claim_id: "AxKmxtEJVnwfV4DTSy5V"
validity: 0
model: accounts/fireworks/models/kimi-k2p6
---

# Claim: Russia stated that it is not its place to dictate whether Ukraine or European countries should join the European Union or NATO.

Verdict: 0%
Model: Kimi K2.6
Checked on: 21/07/2026

## Verdict explanation

- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in February 2025 that Ukraine has a “sovereign right” to join the EU and that “no one can dictate anything to another country, and we are not going to do that” on economic integration[^1][^2].
- However, Peskov immediately distinguished EU membership from military alliances, adding: “Of course, our position on issues related to security, defense and military alliances is completely different. We have a different approach there, and everyone knows it”[^2].
- Russia has repeatedly called Ukrainian NATO membership “unacceptable” and a “direct threat,” demanded that NATO disavow its 2008 promise to Ukraine, and cited Ukraine’s NATO aspirations as a justification for its 2022 invasion[^3][^4][^5].
- Russia therefore did not state that it is not its place to dictate on both EU and NATO membership; it explicitly maintains a right to oppose NATO membership while saying it will not dictate EU membership.

**Overall validity**: 0%

[^1]:
    [Russia, opposed to Ukraine's Nato membership, says joining European Union is Kyiv’s ‘sovereign right’ – Firstpost](https://www.firstpost.com/world/russia-opposed-to-ukraines-nato-membership-says-joining-european-union-is-kyivs-sovereign-right-13864429.html)

[^2]:
    [Russia: Ukraine has a ‘sovereign right’ to join EU — but not NATO – POLITICO](https://www.politico.eu/article/dmitrt-peskov-kremlin-ukraine-sovereign-right-join-eu-not-nato)

[^3]:
    [Russia says NATO states can't enforce Ukraine peace, wants membership pledge scrapped](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-nato-must-disavow-2008-membership-promise-ukraine-2025-02-18)

[^4]:
    [Ukraine–NATO relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine%E2%80%93NATO_relations)

[^5]:
    [Russia never ‘objected’ to EU membership for Ukraine, Putin claims](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5481448-putin-russia-ukraine-european-union)

## Sources using this claim (1)

- [Russia has never flip-flopped on its Ukraine policy. #putin #russia #nato #eu #ukraine](/source/tiktok:putin.goat:7664651181779717407) — 10% — 34 views