Biden: Putin Obsessed With Destroying NATO

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was meant to destroy NATO, and keeping the alliance together is critical for the security of the US and the West, US President Joe Biden told CNN in an interview.

Photo Insert: Biden said when he first met Putin two years ago in Geneva, the Russian leader sought a commitment from the US to keep Ukraine out of NATO.

Biden and other NATO leaders met in Vilnius, Lithuania last Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Talks were centered around providing Ukraine military support and a possible path to membership in the alliance.

"I believe Putin has had an overwhelming objective from the time he launched 185,000 troops into Ukraine, and that was to break NATO," Biden said. "So, holding NATO together is really critical."

Biden said when he first met Putin two years ago in Geneva, the Russian leader sought a commitment from the US to keep Ukraine out of NATO. Biden declined to make the pledge, citing the alliance's "open-door policy. We're not going to shut anybody out."

But Biden acknowledged there is little desire among current NATO members to "bring Ukraine into the NATO family now."

He said that it will take Ukraine some time to meet NATO qualifications. In the meantime, Sweden is a shoo-in to join NATO, Francesca Chalmers reported for USA TODAY.

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