NATO leaders have said they will continue to show support toward Ukraine, as Russia's recent gains in Adviika's region suggested a favorable turn for Moscow in its conflict against Kyiv.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently told reporters that Ukraine still has the right to use Western-supplied weapons against Russia, even if that includes striking against targets within Russian borders. He called Putin's aggression a "blatant violation of international law."
The involvement of NATO nations in helping Ukraine has been complicated recently by U.S. political sentiment, with Republicans in Congress holding back on $61 billion in new aid, and a campaigning Donald Trump suggesting he may cool on NATO agreements if he becomes president in 2024.
A clip of Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he had made a fresh threat against NATO countries if they became involved in the conflict, warning they would be "immediately" pulled into war, has now gone viral,
The Claim
A post on X, formerly Twitter, by podcaster Clint Russell on February 25, 2024, viewed 9.5 million times, included a clip of Vladimir Putin. Russell wrote: "Putin is making it very clear without saying it explicitly, so I'll clarify,
"If the West proceeds to add Ukraine into NATO it will lead to nuclear war
"Are you ready to die to defend Ukraine? I'm not. This needs to be de-escalated immediately."
In the clip, subtitles stated that Putin said "I want to stress it one more time,
"I've been saying it, but I'd very much want you to finally hear me, and to deliver it to your audience in print, TV and online.
"Do you understand it or not, that if Ukraine joins NATO and attempts to bring Crimea back by military means, the European countries will be automatically pulled into a war conflict with Russia?'
"Of course NATO and Russia potentials are incomparable. We understand it.
"But we also understand that Russia is one of the leading nuclear states, and by some modern components it even outperforms many.
"There will be no winners. And you will be pulled into this conflict against your will.
"You won't even have time to blink your eye when you execute Article 5 (collective defence of NATO members).
"Mr. President Macron, of course, doesn't want this. And I don't want it. And I don't want it....which is why he is here, torturing me for six straight hours."
Wall Street Silver reposted Russell's comment and video on February 25, 2024. Its post, viewed 5 million times, said: "NATO announced they will make Ukraine part of NATO, which for Russia is a red line they cannot allow.
"Putin will use everything, including nuclear weapons to stop NATO from being in Ukraine.
"So why is NATO so eager to start WW3? Why can't Ukraine just be neutral? Why are Biden and NATO trying to start WW3?"
The Facts
While Putin made this speech, it has nothing to do with any new negotiations with NATO.
The speech was recorded in Moscow on February 7, 2022, as part of a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, held just over two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Footage of the conference is available on YouTube, and while the translation in that video differs slightly from the one shared on Twitter the meaning is roughly the same, with Putin threatening conflict should Ukraine join NATO.
Following Russia's invasion, President Joe Biden has said Ukraine would "eventually" become a member.
The Kremlin released a public statement about the February 2022 press conference, which was emphatic about Russia's relationship with the North Atlantic Alliance.
"NATO has designated Russia an adversary," it stated.
"Moreover, while advancing its military infrastructure very close to our border, NATO and its member states believe that they have a right to teach us where and how we can deploy our armed forces,
"They consider it acceptable to demand that we do not hold planned drills and exercises and present the movement of our troops on our own—I repeat, our own—territory as a threat of a Russian invasion, in this case the invasion of Ukraine."
In any case, the video here is not a fresh threat or addressing new membership negotiations.
Putin's war of words with NATO nations has been more timid in recent months. While continuing to defend his invasion of Ukraine, he has told reporters that Russia has no interest in attacking member states.
President Biden in December told U.S. lawmakers that Putin could move against the alliance if Western aid for Ukraine faltered.
The Ruling
Misleading Material.
While Vladimir Putin did say that Ukraine's membership of NATO risked all-out war with Western nations, these are not new remarks or comments on any recent developments between NATO and Kyiv.
The video shared on social media is from early February 2022, just over two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
