Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukrainian membership of NATO will be decided by a nationwide referendum.

"The issue of Ukraine joining NATO is a fundamental one, I'll hold a referendum, let the people decide," the Twitter page of iTele French TV quotes Poroshenko as saying in an interview on Wednesday.

He said that Ukrainian membership of the European Union is the priority as Ukraine is a European country and "Europe can't be complete without Ukraine."

While discussing the aggression being waged against Ukraine, Poroshenko said that "today, the postwar peace and system of agreements [is being] let down."

Poroshenko said that the bloodshed continues in Donbas despite the ceasefire, adding that "the mechanisms to separate the opposing sides should be found to prevent shooting."

He went on to say that it was important to restore Ukraine's control over the state border and the lost territories, adding that Ukraine is a free and independent state and it will defend itself.

"Crimea will always be Ukrainian, it is an integral [part] of Ukraine," Poroshenko said, adding that he believes Ukraine will emerge victorious in the end.