PARIS, October 19. /TASS/. Paris is in talks with NATO allies about the chance of inviting Ukraine to the bloc immediately, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on a visit to Kiev.

"As for Ukraine's invitation to NATO, we do not rule it out and are holding discussions on this issue with our partners," he said.

The day before, in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, Minister-Delegate for European Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry Benjamin Haddad said that Paris believes it is a priority to agree on Ukraine's official invitation to NATO. He conceded that the process of joining the alliance could take a fairly long time. But, according to Haddad, the invitation is the first political signal that can be made right now.

Barrot is on a two-day visit to Kiev.