(ANSA) - MOSCOW, APR 8 - Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodimir Zelensky said that Ukraine's accession to Nato should be preceded by a detailed information campaign and a referendum, Interfax reported. ''Ukraine chose the path of European integration a long time ago, and no one will change this course'', Zelensky told the Ukrainian public television.

Zelensky said that, as a citizen of Ukraine, he wants Ukraine to join the Nato. ''But to enter Nato we should explain to people, even according to our electoral program, that the Organization is not an alligator that wants to swallow us, but it's about our country's security'', he said. ''We need to engage each person living in the east of Ukraine (that is the Russian-speaking population, ed): everyone in the west of the country knows this and everyone supports the path to Nato membership, but we must involve all the Ukrainians. The entry into Nato should take place through a referendum'', Zelensky underlined. (ANSA).