Given how adamantly Russia is against any possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, it is surprising that President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia would not mind Ukraine becoming a member of the European Union.

"As for Ukraine's membership in the European Union, we never had anything against it," Putin said during his visit to China."As for NATO, that's a completely different matter."

Some observers claim that Putin is probably trying to present himself as a peacemaker to US President Donald Trump.

It is also believed that the statement aims to buy time, because the EU accession process certainly takes years and even decades, while NATO membership goes faster and provides more concrete security guarantees.

Why is membership in the EU acceptable to Russia?

In 2013, when the then pro-Russian president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, suspended the signing of the association agreement with the EU, mass protests broke out across the country.

Protesters accused him of bowing to Russian pressure and deliberately stalling Ukraine's European integration in order to keep it in Russia's sphere of influence.

A year later, Ukraine did sign an association agreement, but many believed then – as now – that Moscow never wanted Kiev to move towards a democratic Europe.

George Beebe, director of strategy at the Quincy Institute, believes that Putin's statement was likely a tactical move aimed at securing international agreement against Ukraine's membership in NATO, while at the same time trying to seize the entire Donbass.

Currently, Russia controls 88 percent of Donbas, and according to the Financial Times, Putin allegedly told Trump that he would freeze the front line, that is, recognize the de facto border if Ukraine cedes the entire area.

Bibi believes that pragmatism is a key factor, as the Russian army is undermanned and poorly supplied."The Russian army has already shown that it cannot conquer all of Ukraine."

In addition, Putin may be concerned that European NATO members are rebuilding neglected military industries and promising to boost combat capabilities for the first time in years.

Bibi says Putin likely understands that a willingness to accept Ukraine's potential EU membership is a"necessary price" for avoiding such a scenario and achieving favorable terms in a future peace deal.

"This is part of a long-term negotiation process," Rafael Los, a security expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW.

"When everyone agrees that Ukraine's NATO membership is not an option, Putin can influence the EU enlargement process through his allies within the bloc" such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

No to NATO, yes to EU

Russia has long seen NATO expansion as a threat to its security, despite NATO's claims that it is a defensive alliance.

"NATO has a special place in Russian psychology," said Etienne Soula from the Alliance for the Preservation of Democracy at the German Marshall Fund."The EU is not perceived as a serious military threat because European allies need American support to be fully operational."

In addition, NATO membership is a relatively faster process than EU accession, which requires a series of reforms and harmonization of laws and practices with European standards.

"Putin knows that the EU accession process is long-term and it gives him enough time and opportunity to interfere through Fitz and Orban and slow down that process," adds Los.

"He's offering a carrot to the West's useful idiots - the term Soviet intelligence used for people who fall for propaganda," Los said.

Beebe writes that Putin probably anticipated that Trump would pressure European partners to speed up the accession process — knowing that it could still take years, if not decades.

EU membership not enough?

Regardless of what Russia accepts or rejects, Ukraine has priorities, and reliable security guarantees are currently at the top of the list.

"As soon as the war is over, Russia will intensify its hybrid activities in Ukraine," warns Sula."Without some level of security guarantees, by which I mean American guarantees, EU membership sounds empty."

Although the EU has a mutual defense clause that provides protection and support to members, experts believe that without American support, Europe remains vulnerable.

Los adds that EU membership is part of a wider package, but that security guarantees must be such that they really deter Russia from attacking again.

"Putin has not made any concessions, he is still opposed to the possible future membership of Ukraine in the EU," explains Los.

"This is his tactical game to buy time, avoid US sanctions and prepare the ground for a new invasion."