Putin deputy says NATO membership for Ukraine would guarantee 'World War III'

A top minister for Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Ukraine's induction into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would represent a "guaranteed" escalation toward global, possibly nuclear conduct. 

Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Venediktov told the state-controlled Russian news outlet TASS that allowing Ukraine into Nato "would mean a guaranteed escalation to World War Three."

"Apparently, that's what they are counting on, to create informational noise and draw attention to themselves once again," Venediktov argued.

Putin has warned against Nato interfering in the Russian-Ukraine conflict, calling it a "red line" and promising retribution for any international involvement to that extent. 

Venediktov told TASS that he "wouldn't be surprised if some people out there really expect [Ukraine] to be admitted to NATO."

But "NATO members themselves understand the suicidal nature of this step," he claimed.