Russian President Vladimir Putin with former NATO Secretary General George Robertson (2003). Photo: Kremlin.ru. Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson spoke about his experience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He noted that Putin still said at the time that Russia should be together with Europe. And at the Russia-NATO Council meeting, the Russian president joked in a way that frightened the Polish delegation.
Robertson said in an interview with Foreign Policy that his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in February 2000.
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“He told me: 'I want to re-establish relations with NATO. “Step by step, but I intend to do it,” Robertson recalls. According to former NATO Secretary General Putin, he remarked that some people disagreed with him, but he wants to.
“I want Russia to be part of the Western Of Europe. This is our destiny, “Robertson also quoted Putin's words.
He also recalled that at the first meeting of the Russia-NATO Council, Vladimir Putin asked seriously:” Can I suggest renaming NATO headquarters? to the Soviets? ” At a meeting in Brussels after 9/11, Putin asked him, “So when will you invite Russia to join NATO?”
Georgia, Chechnya and Latvia.