In a recent statement, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, vehemently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining NATO without the disputed territories of Crimea and Donbas. Medvedev argued that the proposal put forth by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirms that these regions rightfully belong to Moscow.

Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, expressed his views on his Telegram channel, asserting that he does not perceive Ukraine as a legitimate country deserving of admission into NATO. His comments were in response to Rasmussen's suggestion in a recent interview with The Guardian that Ukraine could potentially join the military alliance but only with the territories it currently controls, excluding the Russian-occupied regions.

Rasmussen's rationale for this proposal was the impediment posed by Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which mandates the defense of any member state under attack. Since Russia retains control over parts of the Donbas and has annexed Crimea since 2014, Rasmussen argued that Ukraine's full membership in NATO would automatically trigger Article 5. However, the former NATO chief clarified that his suggestion did not imply that Ukraine should relinquish these territories. He emphasized that such an arrangement would discourage Russia from launching attacks on Ukrainian soil within the NATO framework, thereby granting Ukrainian forces the freedom to focus on the frontline.

Medvedev countered the proposal of partial NATO membership as an admission by NATO about the lands that Russia considers its own. In his Telegram message, he specifically referred to Crimea and Donbas as no longer belonging to Ukraine. He went on to claim that cities like Odessa, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv, among others, are also not part of Ukraine.

The controversial remarks by Medvedev are not unprecedented, as he has increasingly become a prominent voice within the Kremlin regarding Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which was initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. His inflammatory rhetoric previously included labeling Ukraine's Western allies as "legitimate military targets" in December 2022 and proclaiming Russia's readiness for direct conflict with NATO member states in September.

It remains to be seen how Ukraine and its allies will respond to Medvedev's latest comments and if they will impact ongoing discussions surrounding Ukraine's potential NATO membership.