Rice Lends Support To Ukraine NATO Bid: US Spokesman

DAVOS, Switzerland -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stressed US support Wednesday for Ukraine's accession to NATO on Wednesday during talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

Viktor Yushchenko (R) and Condoleezza Rice
Rice and Yushchenko met for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"The secretary reiterated the US view that NATO should leave the door open to those European democratic states who meet membership requirements," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

Last week, Ukraine asked to join the alliance's Membership Action Plan -- a precursor to full membership -- at the next NATO summit, taking place in Bucharest on April 2-4.

Russia has warned that Ukraine's NATO ambitions would "seriously" complicate relations between the two countries.

Source: AFP