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US secretary of defense statements practically open doors to NATO for Ukraine — Putin

"Even those leaders of the European countries who are now blocking the process of Kiev’s rapprochement with the alliance are not speaking against Ukraine’s NATO membership," the president noted.

SOCHI, October 21./TASS/. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is practically opening the doors to NATO for Ukraine through his statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a plenary meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday.

"We see the [US] defense secretary coming [to Ukraine], who, in fact, opens the doors to NATO for Ukraine. In fact, his statements should and can be interpreted exactly this way," Putin said. He says that yes, every country has the right, Putin went on to say.

"Nobody says no," Putin added, referring to the attitude of the NATO member countries to Ukraine’s NATO membership. Even those leaders of the European countries who are now blocking the process of Kiev’s rapprochement with the alliance are not speaking against Ukraine’s NATO membership, he noted.

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