Changes

In May 1995 President [[Bill Clinton]] was invited to [[Moscow]] for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the victory over [[Hitler]].  In Moscow, Russian President [[Boris Yeltsin]] berated Clinton about NATO expansion, seeing “nothing but humiliation” for Russia: “For me to agree to the borders of NATO expanding towards those of Russia – that would constitute a betrayal on my part of the Russian people.”<ref>https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2021-11-24/nato-expansion-budapest-blow-1994</ref>

In May 1995 President [[Bill Clinton]] was invited to [[Moscow]] for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the victory over [[Hitler]].  In Moscow, Russian President [[Boris Yeltsin]] berated Clinton about NATO expansion, seeing “nothing but humiliation” for Russia: “For me to agree to the borders of NATO expanding towards those of Russia – that would constitute a betrayal on my part of the Russian people.”<ref>https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2021-11-24/nato-expansion-budapest-blow-1994</ref>

After the Soviet Union collapsed depriving NATO of its original reason for existence, skeptics of the alliance included [[liberal]]s as much as [[conservative]]s.  In 1998, 10 Democratic Senators joined nine Republicans in opposing the first, fateful round of NATO enlargement, which would soon extend the alliance to Russia’s border.  Among the dissenters was Senator [[Paul Wellstone]] of Minnesota.  In between voting against the first Iraq war in 1991 and the second after Sept. 11, Sen. Wellstone warned that expanding NATO would jeopardize Europe’s hard-won gains. “There is peace between states in Europe, between nations in Europe, for the first time in centuries,” he said. “We do not have a divided Europe, and I worry about a NATO expansion which could redivide Europe and again poison relations with Russia.”<ref>https://quincyinst.org/2021/06/14/sorry-liberals-but-you-really-shouldnt-love-nato/</ref>

After the Soviet Union collapsed depriving NATO of its original reason for existence, skeptics of the alliance included [[liberal]]s as much as [[conservative]]s.  In 1998, 10 Democratic Senators joined nine Republicans in opposing the first, fateful round of NATO enlargement with [[Hungary]], the [[Czech Republic]], and [[Poland]] added, extending the alliance to Russia’s border.  Among the dissenters was Senator [[Paul Wellstone]] of Minnesota.  In between voting against the first Iraq war in 1991 and the second after Sept. 11, Sen. Wellstone warned that expanding NATO would jeopardize Europe’s hard-won gains. “There is peace between states in Europe, between nations in Europe, for the first time in centuries,” he said. “We do not have a divided Europe, and I worry about a NATO expansion which could redivide Europe and again poison relations with Russia.”<ref>https://quincyinst.org/2021/06/14/sorry-liberals-but-you-really-shouldnt-love-nato/</ref>

[[Vladimir Putin]] assumed office as the president of Russia on the last day of 1999.  In an interview with David Frost broadcast on the [[BBC]] on March 13, 2000, Putin expressed his desire to see Russia join NATO:<ref>https://www.gazeta.ru/2001/02/28/putin_i_bbc.shtml</ref>

[[Vladimir Putin]] assumed office as the president of Russia on the last day of 1999.  In an interview with David Frost broadcast on the [[BBC]] on March 13, 2000, Putin expressed his desire to see Russia join NATO:<ref>https://www.gazeta.ru/2001/02/28/putin_i_bbc.shtml</ref>

Today we must say once and for all: the Cold War is done with! We have entered a new stage of development. We understand that without a modern, sound and sustainable security architecture we will never be able to create an atmosphere of trust on the continent, and without that atmosphere of trust there can be no united Greater Europe! Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions and from now on will jointly work for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.}}

Today we must say once and for all: the Cold War is done with! We have entered a new stage of development. We understand that without a modern, sound and sustainable security architecture we will never be able to create an atmosphere of trust on the continent, and without that atmosphere of trust there can be no united Greater Europe! Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions and from now on will jointly work for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.}}

In 2004 the Baltic states - [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], and [[Estonia]] joined NATO, setting up for the first time a common border between the Russian Federation and a NATO state.  Three years later, at the Munich Security Conference, Putin declared, “We have the right to ask: against whom is this [NATO] expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them.”<ref>https://aldeilis.net/english/putins-historical-speech-munich-conference-security-policy-2007/</ref>  In 2008 NATO said Ukraine and Georgia would become members.  Four other [[Eastern Europe]]an states joined NATO in 2009.

In 2004 the Baltic states - [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], and [[Estonia]] joined NATO, setting up another common border between the Russian Federation and a NATO state.  Three years later, at the Munich Security Conference, Putin declared, “We have the right to ask: against whom is this [NATO] expansion intended? And what happened to the assurances our western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? Where are those declarations today? No one even remembers them.”<ref>https://aldeilis.net/english/putins-historical-speech-munich-conference-security-policy-2007/</ref>  In 2008 NATO said Ukraine and Georgia would become members.  Four other [[Eastern Europe]]an states joined NATO in 2009.

President Putin remarked in 2021, "As for NATO’s enlargement and the advancement of NATO infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, this is a matter of paramount significance as far as the security of Russians and Russia goes...I do not want to use harsh words, but they simply spat upon our interests."<ref>https://tass.com/politics/1300975</ref>

President Putin remarked in 2021, "As for NATO’s enlargement and the advancement of NATO infrastructure towards Russia’s borders, this is a matter of paramount significance as far as the security of Russians and Russia goes...I do not want to use harsh words, but they simply spat upon our interests."<ref>https://tass.com/politics/1300975</ref>