US President Donald Trump has again stated that he believes that the main reason for Russia's attack on Ukraine was the latter's wish to join NATO.

In an interview with The Time on Tuesday, which was published on Friday, Trump added that Crimea will remain part of Russia.

The US president repeated his previous claims that Ukraine itself provoked the war, seeking to join NATO.

" I think what caused the war to start was when they [i.e. Ukraine] started talking about joining NATO," the US president said.

Earlier, Trump, commenting on Ukraine's offer to buy American Patriot air-defense missile systems to protect its airspace, had insinuated that it was Ukraine that caused the war.

Also, the US president made it clear that he considers Crimea lost for Ukraine.