"Idea of ​​neutrality no longer makes sense": Kissinger in Davos recognized appropriateness of Ukraine's membership in NATO

Former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor of the White House, 99-year-old Henry Kissinger, known for his position against Ukraine joining NATO, finally agreed that such membership would be appropriate for Kyiv today.

He stated this during his speech on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrinform reports.

"Before this war, I was against Ukraine's membership in NATO, because I was afraid that it would start exactly the process that we are seeing now. Now, when the process has reached such a level, the idea of neutral Ukraine in such conditions no longer makes sense," he said.

He also hinted that Ukraine's NATO membership would be appropriate outcome after peace is secured.

At the same time, Kissinger stated that, in his opinion, it is now necessary to avoid direct military escalation between Russian Federation and the West, as well as liquidation of Russian Federation as independent state.

"Destruction of Russia as a state that can implement its own policy will open up a vast territory spanning eleven time zones to internal conflicts and external interference at a time when it has more than 15,000 nuclear weapons," Kissinger said.

He also noted that he considers it necessary for Russian Federation to have opportunity to join international system after achieving peace in Ukraine. In this regard, Kissinger said that he "believes in dialogue with Russia" while war continues, provided that sanctions and other pressures are maintained until final settlement is reached.