Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, Vladimir Putin in speech after speech has continually

tried to blame NATO for his actions.

The choice of pathways towards ensuring security should not pose a threat to other states,

whereas Ukraine, joining NATO, is a direct threat to Russia's security.

NATO began active military development of the territories adjacent to ours.

This was an absolutely unacceptable threat, systematically created for us and right on our borders.

NATO may not be fighting in Ukraine, but it's still seen as the greatest threat to Russia.

For Putin, this is a war based on history, and in particular, his version of it.

He claims, and this is fiercely disputed by people who were there, that the Americans

agreed in 1990 that NATO wouldn't expand any further.

But it has, taking in many of Russia's neighbours, like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,

Putin was terrified that Ukraine and NATO were becoming too close.

Do you realise that if Ukraine joins NATO and decides to take Crimea back through military

means, the European countries will automatically get drawn into military conflict with Russia?

But if the war in Ukraine was supposed to keep NATO at bay, then it's failed.

As NATO has expanded again.

We welcome Finland as the news member of our alliance.

Thirty-one flags flying together as a symbol of unity and our solidarity.

And again.

I look forward to also welcoming Sweden into the alliance as soon as possible.

And now, ironically, it could be about to expand yet again.

Ukraine is ready to be NATO.

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