Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadim Prystaiko's apparent suggestion that Kyiv may refuse NATO membership to prevent a war with Russia was taken out of context, RIA news agency quoted Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, as saying on Monday.

"We might – especially being threatened like that, blackmailed by that, and pushed to it," Prystaiko was quoted as telling the BBC when asked if Kyiv could change its position on NATO membership.

Prystaiko later sought to clarify his remarks, saying that the country would not be reconsidering its attempt to join the military alliance, according to Reuters.