MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Accession of Ukraine to NATO can lead to World War III and NATO itself understands it, Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Venediktov said in an interview with TASS.
According to him, Ukraine's application for a fast-track NATO membership is "rather a propaganda move."
"Kiev is well aware that such a step would mean a guaranteed escalation to World War Three," Venediktov said.
"Apparently, that's what they are counting on - to create informational noise and draw attention to themselves once again," Venediktov noted.
"But given that many members of the Kiev regime are out of touch with reality, I wouldn't be surprised if some people out there really expect their country to be admitted to NATO," he said.
"We are also aware that, despite statements about not being involved in the events in Ukraine, the real actions taken by Westerners show that they are a direct party to the conflict," the official said.
He drew attention to the fact that "the accession of Ukraine to NATO will automatically give the West’s involvement [in the conflict] a new quality, the fifth article will come into effect (on collective defense - TASS)." The Deputy Secretary of the Security Council pointed to grave consequences of such actions for all mankind.
" NATO members themselves understand the suicidal nature of this step (to admit Ukraine to NATO - TASS)," he said.
Venediktov noted that "Kiev's request was immediately supported by Eastern Europeans, including the Balts."
"But the more serious powers, and even Brussels itself, reacted to this initiative without enthusiasm and immediately issued a standard set of counterarguments - non-compliance with the bloc's standards, the existence of territorial disputes, and so on," Venediktov stated.
"In any case, Russia's position remains unchanged: Ukraine's accession to NATO or some other alliances formed under the auspices of the United States is unacceptable for us," Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council concluded.