West knew NATO push for Ukraine was risky – WikiLeaks

US and European officials were long aware of the high risk of conflict stemming from Kiev’s NATO ambition, WikiLeaks revealed on Monday. Citing a trove of documents it obtained, including diplomatic cables, the publisher detailed how Washington looked for ways to overcome opposition to the idea despite warnings from Western envoys.

Moscow repeatedly warned the diplomats that Ukraine’s accession to the US-led bloc could trigger a civil war or destabilize the whole region, forcing Russia to make a decision it “does not want to have to face,” according to a 24-minute-long video published by WikiLeaks on X.

The organization also cited a February 2008 cable from then US ambassador to Moscow William Burns, who warned that Russia saw NATO expansion as a security threat…