“NATO is, in fact, the only one of the existing security alliances today that Ukraine could join.
There is an open door position for us there," RIA Novosti quotes Zelensky.
According to him, for Ukraine "there is a long distance along this path - years and months, especially if there is an escalation."
“Passing this path, we must get a system of guarantees.
And at least theoretically, it should not be inferior to the system that is being offered to NATO countries,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Zelensky stressed that for Ukraine this is "the only alternative to the current situation, when Kiev defends itself."
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Kiev regime, if Ukraine is accepted into NATO, may try to “return” Crimea by force and draw the United States, together with its allies, into a direct armed conflict with Russia.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the idea of Ukraine joining NATO, recalled that Ukrainian doctrinal documents provide for the “return of Crimea,” including by military means.
He suggested thinking about what the possible aggression of a "member of the alliance" against the Russian peninsula could eventually lead to.
Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which the majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula spoke in favor of reunification with Russia.