Medvedev says Russia should drop its 'tolerant attitude' towards Ukraine's EU drive

## Summary
Medvedev says Russia should drop its 'tolerant attitude' towards Ukraine's EU drive Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments FILE PHOTO: Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attends an interview with Reuters, TASS and WarGonzo in the Moscow region, Russia January 29, 2026. Dmitry Medvedev's Secretariat/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo Published Apr 03, 2026, 04:09 PM Updated Apr 03, 2026, 04:12 PM MOSCOW, April 3 - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's powerful Security Council, said on Friday that Moscow should drop its "tolerant attitude" towards Ukraine's possible EU membership. "The EU is no longer just an economic union. It can transform, and rather quickly, into a full-blown military alliance, one overtly hostile to Russia, and in some ways worse than NATO," Medvedev said. "It’s time to drop the tolerant attitude toward our neighbors joining what is now a military-economic European Union." Medvedev said that he did not believe the United States would leave the NATO military alliance but that Washington could make symbolic moves such as cutting the number of U.S. troops deployed to other NATO members. Medvedev said, though, that the obvious divisions within NATO could push the EU towards becoming more than simply an economic union.

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Medvedev says Russia should drop its 'tolerant attitude' towards Ukraine's EU drive
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FILE PHOTO: Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attends an interview with Reuters, TASS and WarGonzo in the Moscow region, Russia January 29, 2026. Dmitry Medvedev's Secretariat/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo
Published
Apr 03, 2026, 04:09 PM
Updated
Apr 03, 2026, 04:12 PM
MOSCOW, April 3 - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's powerful Security Council, said on Friday that Moscow should drop its "tolerant attitude" towards Ukraine's possible EU membership.
"The EU is no longer just an economic union. It can transform, and rather quickly, into a full-blown military alliance, one overtly hostile to Russia, and in some ways worse than NATO," Medvedev said.
"It’s time to drop the tolerant attitude toward our neighbors joining what is now a military-economic European Union."
Medvedev said that he did not believe the United States would leave the NATO military alliance but that Washington could make symbolic moves such as cutting the number of U.S. troops deployed to other NATO members.
Medvedev said, though, that the obvious divisions within NATO could push the EU towards becoming more than simply an economic union. REUTERS
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
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### Areas for Consideration
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### Implications
- Medvedev says Russia should drop its 'tolerant attitude' towards Ukraine's EU drive Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments FILE PHOTO: Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attends an interview with Reuters, TASS and WarGonzo in the Moscow region, Russia January 29, 2026.
- Dmitry Medvedev's Secretariat/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo Published Apr 03, 2026, 04:09 PM Updated Apr 03, 2026, 04:12 PM MOSCOW, April 3 - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's powerful Security Council, said on Friday that Moscow should drop its "tolerant attitude" towards Ukraine's possible EU membership. "The EU is no longer just an economic union.
- It can transform, and rather quickly, into a full-blown military alliance, one overtly hostile to Russia, and in some ways worse than NATO," Medvedev said. "It’s time to drop the tolerant attitude toward our neighbors joining what is now a military-economic European Union." Medvedev said that he did not believe the United States would leave the NATO military alliance but that Washington could make symbolic moves such as cutting the number of U.S. troops deployed to other NATO members.
- Medvedev said, though, that the obvious divisions within NATO could push the EU towards becoming more than simply an economic union.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers medvedev, russia, nato topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 211.