Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said on Friday that he does not think it is a wise foreign policy decision for the US to try to include Ukraine in NATO after the fall of the Soviet Union.

"The main challenge came when the Berlin Wall came down... From the Russian point of view, the United States then tried to integrate the entire region of Eastern Europe, without exception, into a strategic system led by the United States," Kissinger said. .

I think that trying to include Ukraine in NATO is not a wise American policy."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine is quickly applying for NATO membership. "De facto, we have already completed our journey towards NATO." De facto, we have already proven interoperability with Alliance standards, they are real for Ukraine – real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction. We trust each other, we help each other and we protect each other. It's the Alliance. De facto. Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure. According to a procedure that is consistent with our importance of protecting our entire community. According to an accelerated procedure," the statement said.

Later, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US remains committed to NATO's open door policy.

Kissinger warned of the possibility of accelerating and increasing tensions leading to nuclear conflict, arguing that the use of nuclear weapons would forever change the world order.

However, if Russia initiates a nuclear conflict, the United States and NATO should deny Moscow the results it wants, he said.

Kissinger also advocated dialogue between Russia and a collective West that continues to seek to preserve US and NATO strategic interests.

It is not in the interest of the world, including the collective West, for Russia to be completely cut off from Western systems, Kissinger added.