(MENAFN) Newly released documents show that former US President Bill Clinton told Russian President Vladimir Putin he was open to discussing Russia joining NATO. The comments were made during a Kremlin meeting on June 4, 2000, according to White House records published by the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

Clinton assured Putin that NATO’s expansion was not intended as a threat to Moscow. “From the outset of the NATO enlargement process, I knew it could be a problem for Russia. I was sensitive to this, and I want it understood that NATO enlargement does not threaten Russia in any way,” Clinton said, adding, “I am serious about being ready to discuss NATO membership with Russia.” He acknowledged, however, that Russian domestic politics at the time made such a step difficult.

According to the records, Putin responded positively to the idea. He later recalled in a 2023 interview with Tucker Carlson that Clinton initially seemed supportive but reversed his position after consulting his team. Putin argued that such a move could have created a new era of cooperation between Russia and NATO. Instead, the alliance has expanded six times since 2000, adding 12 new members. Moscow has consistently voiced concerns over NATO’s growth, framing Ukraine’s bid for membership as a key factor in the ongoing conflict, which Russia portrays as a proxy war led by the West.

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