Washington, 16 May 1997 (RFE/RL) - Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma says he welcomes the signing Wednesday of the NATO-Russian accord.
Kuchma told reporters in Washington yesterday that the pact "corresponds with the interests of Ukraine because Russia supports the necessity of signing an analogous agreement...between Ukraine and NATO."
Ukraine is in the process of negotiating its own charter with NATO and U.S. officials say they expect it to be completed soon.
Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Anton Buteyko calls the Russian-NATO pact "useful" and welcome, but says it has no connection with Kyiv's compact. "We have our project, Russia has its own," Buteyko told our correspondent in Washington.