Ukraine's parliament has voted to drop the country's “non-aligned” status and stated that it will work towards eventually joining NATO, in a move that has angered the Russian government.
The vote on Tuesday received 303 votes – 77 more than the minimum needed to pass the amendment into law.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko told foreign diplomats before the vote on Monday night that “Ukraine's fight for its independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty has turned into a decisive factor in our relations with the world.”
After the vote he tweeted "European and Euro-Atlantic integrations -- that is Ukraine's XX course."
The move has angered Russia with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, saying “it will only escalate the confrontation and creates the illusion that it is possible to resolve Ukraine’s deep internal crisis by passing such laws.”
Lavrov went on to demand Ukraine "put an end to confrontation" and stop passing "absolutely counterproductive" measures.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a Facebook post that "in essence, an application for NATO membership will turn Ukraine into a potential military opponent for Russia."
Meanwhile a NATO spokesperson in Brussels said,
“Our door is open and Ukraine will become a member of Nato if it so requests and fulfils the standards and adheres to the necessary principles.”
The vote on Tuesday received 303 votes – 77 more than the minimum needed to pass the amendment into law.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko told foreign diplomats before the vote on Monday night that “Ukraine's fight for its independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty has turned into a decisive factor in our relations with the world.”
After the vote he tweeted "European and Euro-Atlantic integrations -- that is Ukraine's XX course."
The move has angered Russia with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, saying “it will only escalate the confrontation and creates the illusion that it is possible to resolve Ukraine’s deep internal crisis by passing such laws.”
Lavrov went on to demand Ukraine "put an end to confrontation" and stop passing "absolutely counterproductive" measures.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a Facebook post that "in essence, an application for NATO membership will turn Ukraine into a potential military opponent for Russia."
Meanwhile a NATO spokesperson in Brussels said,
“Our door is open and Ukraine will become a member of Nato if it so requests and fulfils the standards and adheres to the necessary principles.”