Declassified call reveals Putin asked Bush about Russia joining NATO

This concerns a 2001 dialogue between leaders that was transcribed and made public.

As it turned out, during the conversation, Putin relied on the fact that Bush had allegedly stated that Russia was not an enemy of the United States. The president used this very argument while discussing Russia's possible accession to NATO.

"What you said about 50 years in the future is important. Russia is European and multi-ethnic, like the United States. I can imagine us becoming allies," the Kremlin leader said at the time.

He also told Bush that ''only dire need'' could force the United States and Russia to unite with others. However, even then, Putin said Russia felt excluded from NATO.

"If Russia is not part of this, of course, it feels left out. Why is NATO enlargement needed? In 1954, the Soviet Union applied to join NATO. I have the document," the president said.

Bush responded to Putin at the time by saying, "That's interesting."

"NATO gave a negative answer with four specific reasons: the lack of an Austrian settlement, the lack of a German settlement, the totalitarian grip on Eastern Europe, and the need for Russia to cooperate with the UN Disarmament process. Now all these conditions have been met. Perhaps Russia could be an Ally," the Kremlin leader said at the time, allowing for Russia's accession to NATO.

In the transcript of the 2001 conversation between Bush and Putin, the latter ruled out Ukraine joining NATO. First of all, the Kremlin leader relied on the fact that one third of Ukraine's population were Russians and that a significant number of residents were against joining the Alliance.

During the conversations, Putin also called Ukraine an artificially created state that was formed at the expense of the territories of neighboring countries. More about this can be read in the RBC-Ukraine material.