If Ukraine had joined NATO in 2008, Russia would never have attacked - former Slovak defense minister.

The consequences of Ukraine joining NATO in 2008: what impact would this step have had?

Famous scholar and former Slovak defense minister Jaroslav Nadj emphasized that Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance in 2008 would have prevented acts of aggression by Russia's allies.

'If the West, NATO countries, and the EU had agreed to Ukraine's NATO membership in 2008, when the discussion was quite active, nothing that happened in 2014 or 2022 would have occurred. Putin would never have dared to be aggressive,' Nadj stated in an interview with Ukrinform.

It is worth noting that throughout the history of the alliance, 'there has not been a single attack on a NATO member by a third country.'

'No one would dare to attack you if you are a member of this club, the strongest, best defensive alliance in the history of the world,' Nadj stressed.

According to Nadj, Ukraine's accession to NATO would be in Slovakia's interest, despite the opposition of current Prime Minister Robert Fico.

'As a former defense minister of Slovakia, a politician, I can say that it is in the national interest of my country. Ukraine is our only neighbor that is not a member of the EU or NATO. Once Ukraine joins, the security and defense situation in Slovakia will improve. Thus, it is in our national interest to ensure that this happens as soon as possible,' Nadj noted.