Ukraine's decision to turn over its nuclear arsenal was a mistake of historic proportions, National Defense and Security Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

"Taking into account recent events, including Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and occupation of Donbas, we can see that disarming was a historic mistake. Security guarantees given in return are not worth the paper they were printed on. No one takes weaklings seriously. They are humiliated and used," Turchynov said in an interview with the Gordon.ua e-zine published on Wednesday.

In the interview, Turchynov said in the interview that Ukraine's prospects for quick NATO accession are bleak and that Ukraine will have to presume on itself militarily until then.