In a joint interview with Politico, Bild and Die Welt, Kuleba says he does not believe NATO membership will lead to a new or larger war with Russia.

He believes Russia would not dare attack Ukraine if the country is part of the Defense Alliance, and thus says membership is a path to peace. NATO membership would also give Ukraine a central position as defender of the alliance’s eastern flank.

Anymore: – It’s not our problem

– It is a burden that we are willing to take on our shoulders, says Koleba.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister says the country does not expect to be able to join the alliance while the war is still going on.

– But after the war, it would be suicide for Europe not to accept Ukraine as a member of NATO, he says, adding that this is the only way to close the door to Russian aggression against Europe.

And ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius in a week and a half, he warned Germany not to stand in the way of Ukraine’s membership.

Take Action: – You should be afraid

– Don’t repeat the mistake Prime Minister Angela Merkel made in Bucharest in 2008 when she opposed progress towards Ukraine’s membership, he said.

At that time, many NATO countries lured Ukraine into membership, but it cooled down for fear of provoking Russia. Kuleba believes that the decision at that time opened the way for Russia’s invasion of Georgia and illegal annexation of Crimea.