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Bush backs Ukraine bid to join Nato

Apr 01 2008

Bush backs Ukraine bid to join Nato

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By Agencies

Bush, left, held talks with Yushchenko ahead of a Nato summit in Romania [AFP]

George Bush, the US president, has backed Ukraine's attempt to join Nato after meeting Viktor Yushchenko, his Ukrainian counterpart.

Bush, in Kiev ahead of a Nato summit later this week, said Ukraine's support for the missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo had boosted its effort to join the organisation.

"Ukraine now seeks to deepen its co-operation with the Nato alliance through a membership action plan," Bush said at a news conference with Yushchenko on Tuesday.

"Ukraine has made a bold decision and the United States strongly supports your request."

Bush will head to the Romanian capital Bucharest for the Nato summit after concluding talks with Yushchenko, who said that he was confident about the membership process.

Russian unease

Georgia, which is also planning to join the alliance, also has the support of the US, Bush said.

"I strongly believe that Ukraine and Georgia should be given Map [membership action plan] and there [are] no trade-offs, period," he said.

"I strongly believe that Ukraine and Georgia should be given Map [membership action plan] and there [are] no trade-offs, period"

George Bush,
US president

Russia, which is opposed to Ukrainian membership of the alliance, would not be permitted a veto over Ukraine's attempt to become a Nato member, Bush said.

"Every nation has told me Russia will not have a veto over what happens in Bucharest. I take their word for it."

Russia is uneasy at the 26-member organisation being expanded eastward into its traditional sphere of influence.

Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet republics, share borders with Russia.

Nato's presence in Kosovo, which in February declared independence from Serbia, a Russian ally, has been criticised by Moscow.

Missile shield

Bush said a US plan to set up bases in Europe for an intercontinental missile defence shield was not an "anti-Russian" move.

"We're dealing with a lot of history and a lot of suspicion ... I'm hopeful we'll have some breakthroughs, we'll see," Bush said at the news conference in Kiev.

"Obviously we've got work to do to persuade the president and the people around him that the missile defence system is not aimed at Russia."

The US has said it plans to station missiles in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic to counter potential threats from "rogue" states such as Iran or North Korea.

Russia says there is no immediate threat to the US mainland from these states and says the US shield is aimed at containing Russia.