Ukraine took a further step toward seeking NATO membership Tuesday, when the country’s parliament passed a law abolishing Kyiv’s neutral, non-aligned status.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to do away with the non-aligned status. It was adopted in 2010 under Russian pressure and prevented Kyiv from making military alliances.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he will seek membership in NATO, the Western military alliance, as Kyiv fights Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.
In comments published in Russia’s Interfax news agency, Russian diplomat Andrei Kelin slammed the move as “unfriendly.” He vowed Moscow will “negatively respond,” but did not elaborate.
Kelin is Moscow’s representative to the …read more
Source: Voice of America
