BELGRADE, October 18. /TASS/. NATO is de facto a party to the conflict in Ukraine, says Zoran Milanovic, President of Croatia - a NATO member state.

"Some NATO member states fund, train and equip [Ukrainian servicemen]. Thus, NATO is de facto 100% involved in the Ukrainian conflict. It is a fact," Milanovic told reporters Tuesday.

At the same time, the Croatian President noted that he will oppose the involvement of his country in the conflict.

"Defense of Croatia is a number one priority for us, with nothing else for a long distance down the line [of priorities], then it’s NATO, and only then are everyone else," Milanovic noted.