US-Ukraine

Article published on the 2008-04-01 Latest update 2008-04-01 13:20 TU

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US President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he is "absolutely solid" in his support for Ukraine and Georgia's bid to join the NATO military alliance. However, France says it could upset the European balance of power. Both Ukraine and Georgia are former Soviet republics and Russia is opposed and has said it will veto the move. These opposing positions are likely to make the NATO summit meeting in Romania this week more lively, to say the least.

US President George W. Bush is on a visit to Kiev and was adamant about both his hosts Ukraine and Georgia being allowed in to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation  via the Membership Action Plan (MAP).

US vs. Russia

Ukraine's president stood at Bush's side as the US president declared that "Ukraine has demonstrated commitment to democracy and open markets." 
Whatever Ukraine's track record on those issues, Russia is not happy about the former Soviet republic cosying up to NATO. Russia has actually threatened to target nuclear missiles at Ukraine if Kiev allows NATO bases or elements of a US missile defence shield on Ukrainian territory.  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin was quoted by Interfax and RIA-Novosti news agencies as saying that it will damage relations between his country and Ukraine, and that it would affects pan-European security.

France and Germany vs. US

NATO members France and Germany have both said they will oppose formal approval of Ukraine and Georgia's membership bids at the NATO summit, which starts on Wednesday in Bucharest. France's prime minister François Fillion says the two European Union members think such a move would not be any good for the balance of power within Europe and between Europe and Russia, adding that they want to discuss the question with Russia.

Ukraine also has its say

Confident that Ukraine will get the green-light for the MAP later this week, president Viktor Yushchenko says that joining a collective security system is the only guarantee of his country's sovereignty. 

Small groups of Ukrainians too

At the end of Bush's visit to Kiev, about 150 people demonstrated against NATO in a square in the centre and about 50 pro-NATO demonstrators also waved flags outside the German embassy. The anti-NATO protests in recent days in Kiev have specifically expressed opposition to membership within Ukraine.