💨 Abstract

In the early 2000s, former U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a warm relationship, discussing cooperation on issues like Iran's nuclear ambitions and NATO expansion. Their conversations, released by the National Security Archive, reveal a shift from camaraderie to tension. Initially, Putin suggested Russia's potential NATO membership, but by 2008, he criticized NATO's eastward expansion, particularly Ukraine's potential accession, citing historical and strategic concerns.

Courtesy: theprint.in