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EU pushing NATO deployment to Ukraine without membership, Russian senator claims
A Russian senator claims the UK, France, and Germany are pushing to deploy NATO troops to Ukraine while keeping it outside formal membership, citing a strategy to avoid triggering NATO Article 5 obligations that could spark direct NATO-Russia conflict.
Quick Facts
Who
Alexey Pushkov
What
E3 countries pushing for NATO troop deployment to Ukraine
When
June 22, 2026
Where
Moscow
- E3 countries pushing for NATO troop deployment to Ukraine
- Plans to form a Multinational Force in Ukraine
- Keeping Ukraine out of formal NATO membership
- Concerns about triggering Article 5
- Russian senator claims Western strategic inversion
A Russian senator has alleged that the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are attempting to deploy NATO troops to Ukraine while deliberately keeping the country out of formal NATO membership. Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the information policy commission of Russia's Federation Council, made the assertion in an interview with TASS on June 22, citing what he described as the E3 London statement regarding plans to form a Multinational Force in Ukraine.
Pushkov argued that this approach represents a strategic reversal of traditional NATO expansion. He contended that Ukraine will not gain NATO membership due to U.S. opposition and resistance from European officials who fear that Article 5 activation would trigger direct conflict between NATO and Russia. Instead, according to Pushkov's analysis, Western powers are seeking to introduce NATO military presence into Ukraine without extending full alliance protection.
The Russian senator characterized the strategy as an "inversion," where rather than bringing Ukraine into NATO structures, Western nations aim to insert NATO into Ukraine. Pushkov's comments reflect Moscow's continued concerns about NATO's involvement in the Ukraine conflict and the potential for further military escalation in the region.
Topics
Why This Matters
This claim highlights escalating rhetoric around military intervention in Ukraine and reflects Moscow's perception of Western strategy as attempting to militarize Ukraine without the formal commitments of NATO membership. Understanding these allegations is crucial for tracking the diplomatic and military tensions surrounding NATO's role in the conflict, as accusations of strategic deception could influence negotiations, military posturing, and international responses to the Ukraine crisis.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 22, 2026
WireRussian senator Alexey Pushkov claims E3 countries pushing for NATO deployment to Ukraine without membership