The man Putin lobbied for a place in Nato for Russia

“We got on well at that time, we built a good relationship… but eventually he began to get delusions of grandeur, started to recreate Russian history.”

Former secretary general of Nato Lord Robertson tells #TimesRadio about his encounters with President Putin while head of the international military alliance.

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[simplyamazing]

If so it was only so he could destroy it from within. Just like having a seat on the UN security council, that makes it useless against his criminal enterprise.

[gilh]

When was that? While he was destroying Chechnya? Attacking Georgia, throwing chemicals in Syria, waging hacking wars against Europe? A country at war cannot join NATO as we all know. Putler has been at war for most of his "reign ". Besides, this discussion is completely irrelevant today.

[iainmore]

Aye Right! You cant believe a word Robertson says.

[Acolis]

putin has become a pretty good comedian as of recent. every time he says something i end up laughing!

[TheVoiceOfReason]

Not for the first time, mind you, that Russia attempted to join NATO. Though that was the USSR back in 1954.

[kalleankaa]

And why was he not accepted? Because thewest we loose someone to go to war with...

[angeodeleo]

That is why they also should throw out Hungary. Are you with us or against us? Oban!

[TheToonMonkey]

Ben needs to be a future Prime Minister. He didnt want to leave defence last time around due to the war, but the war will end.

[PipoDeYoyo]

Ben is the man, in fact I could see him PM of the UK

[K.N.H.]

Lol, NATO would become like UN if they joined.

[Eagle-nqmv]

If Russia joined nato, lol we wouldn’t need nato.

[SeeLasSee]

I’m struck how both China and Russia repeatedly think that they can pry apart Europe from the US/Canada. We have our disagreements, but they are disagreements of a style of cousins. If the previous US president that been the leader of Indonesia he would have been regarded as quite liberal.

[davidcharleston]

Ben is about the only straight politician in uk mabey

[theeraphatsunthornwit]

Funny. Our gang was created specifically to bully YOU😂

[twrw]

They'd want to destroy it from within and intimidate the former Soviet states, who would never have accepted them anyway.

[davidnewton]

Lol pootin can't join the YMCA even

[kreb]

Well for two reasons to Block any other country from entering and get access to NATO weapons

[vjbqpee]

Nuclear strikes on Western countries — how Russia will respond to the NATO troops entering Ukraine

[skreety]

Terrorist in NATO?!!! ARE YOU KIDDIN'?? THERE ID ALREADY MORE THAN ONE TERRORIST IN THE
UN!!! SEE ABOUT THAT MESS😮😮

[proselytizingorthodoxpente]

What about NATO's promise not to 'expand eastwards'? Obviously Putin hadn't made that up yet.