Ukraine sees joining NATO as a vital security guarantee to protect it from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to take over the country.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he hopes for positive signals on Ukraine joining NATO after next month's US elections and that the vote could pave the way for peace talks with Russia."After the election,

NATO said back in 2008 that Ukraine would one day join the alliance, and has consistently said that Kyiv's future lies with NATO. However, the timeline for bringing Ukraine into the alliance as never been clear, NATO keen to avoid becoming directly involved in the conflict and unsure of how Russia may respond.