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| Europe |
| Ukraine's NATO membership to worsen relations with Russia |
| 2008-01-22 |
| Russia on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's possible NATO membership will deteriorate bilateral relations and Moscow would take counter measures accordingly. "Ukraine's likely integration with NATO, if it becomes a reality," will considerably worsen the multi-faceted Russian-Ukrainian relations," Itar-Tass news agency quoted an official from the Foreign Ministry as saying. "We shall have to take retaliatory steps," the official, requesting anonymity, was quoted as saying. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, however, said that Ukraine "remains in an open dialogue on Euro-Atlantic and NATO integration processes" and will open talks with Russia "on all disputes that it can perceive as a threat to its security." The Ukrainian government published last week a letter to the NATO chief, pledging to seek membership of the Western military alliance. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov offered "concrete proposals" during a meeting with a top NATO official on Tuesday. Relations between Kiev and Moscow have witnessed downturns in recent years due to arrays of disputes, such as Russia's surging price for energy supply to Ukraine and the latter's pro-Western policies. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 The question is, what DOESN'T piss the Russians off nowadays? Either way, NATO is dead. Better to form an alliance with nations that are willing and able to create effective, deployable militarizes that are willing to accept American command on most occasions. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-01-22 20:15 |
| #7 I agree with Nimble. NATO should be dissolved rather than expanded. The Europeans are wealthy enough to defend themselves and the troops sent to Afghanistan could have been sent there without the NATO structure. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-01-22 17:07 |
| #6 It is ridiculous to bring the Ukraine into Nato. Would we really threaten invasion if Belarus attacked the Ukraine? Not worth the bones of a Pennsylvanian infantryman. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-01-22 16:50 |
| #5 Ukraine in NATO means we might send military of our own. To consult with our allies, that is. And stuff. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-01-22 16:35 |
| #4 um, given the relative uselessness of NATO in A-stan, I'm thinking they wouldn't do too well against Putie's Panzers. Ukraine may be betting a lot on what it used to be. |
| Posted by: Ebberert Protector of the Brontosaurs5310 2008-01-22 16:12 |
| #3 I guess you slept through the Putin inspired coup attempt during the Orange revolution. It had guns, tanks, secret police and "enforced" suicides. Would make a heck of a movie. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-01-22 13:57 |
| #2 Yawn, wake me up if they ever start shooting. |
| Posted by: Titus Hayes 2008-01-22 13:36 |
| #1 By far the most important thing the US can do within our power in Europe. It will effectively check the rise of a neo USSR. Between the Russians and Germans last century, half the Ukrainian population was wiped out in 30 years. The Ukrainians deserve better than to be under either of them ever again. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-01-22 13:02 |