The President of Ukraine urged Nato yesterday to resist Russian pressure and make an historic offer of membership to his country. Viktor Yushchenko said that Ukraine was "devoted" to winning support for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at next month's summit of Nato foreign ministers despite opposition in Moscow and a bitter political crisis at home that has split the pro-Western Orange coalition. He gave warning that expansion of the military alliance was vital to European security in the wake of Russia's war with Georgia, and the only way to secure Ukraine's independence. "I am sure that the ball is not on the Ukrainian side of the field, Ukraine has done everything it had to do," President Yushchenko said in an interview with The Times.
The President of Ukraine urged Nato yesterday to resist Russian pressure and make an historic offer of membership to his country.
Viktor Yushchenko said that Ukraine was "devoted" to winning support for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at next month's summit of Nato foreign ministers despite opposition in Moscow and a bitter political crisis at home that has split the pro-Western Orange coalition.
He gave warning that expansion of the military alliance was vital to European security in the wake of Russia's war with Georgia, and the only way to secure Ukraine's independence.
"I am sure that the ball is not on the Ukrainian side of the field, Ukraine has done everything it had to do," President Yushchenko said in an interview with The Times.
