Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Belarus

Ukraine Says No Russian Ultimatum Over NATO Bid

Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko said there was no discussion of Ukraine's NATO bid during talks with his Russian counterpart (RFE/RL)

30 November 2005 -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko says Russia has not given Kyiv an ultimatum regarding Ukraine's possible membership in NATO.

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November 30, 2005

Hrytsenko told reporters today that he "did not even discuss" Ukraine's possible bid to join the military alliance during talks in the Russian capital yesterday with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who is also deputy prime minister.

At a press conference following the talks yesterday, Ivanov said that should Ukraine join NATO, Russia might phase out cooperation between the two nations' defense industries.

Ivanov was quoted as saying this could be "one of the consequences" of Ukraine joining NATO.

Russia and Ukraine on 29 November agreed on a plan for further cooperation between their defense ministries for next year.

(RIA-Novosti/Interfax)

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