Oekraïne wil lid worden van de NAVO (en)

Ukraine has indicated that it would like to join NATO, which may deepen an already existing rift between Kiev and Moscow.

At a meeting of the 26-nation Alliance in Brussels on Tuesday (22 February), Ukraine President Victor Yushchenko said "we want to see Ukraine integrated into both the European Union and the North Atlantic alliance".

Mr Yushchenko's ambitions were supported by US President George W. Bush, who was also attending the meeting.

"NATO has an open door for those European democracies who fulfil the obligations. There is strong support for President Yushchenko in his challenging endeavour to bring Ukraine closer to Euro-Atlantic integration", said Mr Bush.

"We welcomed Mr Yushchenko and reminded him it is a performance-based organisation, and that the door is open. NATO will help him".

Anticipating a negative reaction from Moscow, Mr Yushchenko said, "Let me say clearly that Russia is our strategic partner. Ukraine's policy on NATO is in no way directed against any other country, including Russia".

However, the move could raise concerns in Moscow that Kiev will move completely out of Russia's sphere of influence - particularly as Mr Yushchenko has made it clear he would also like to join the European Union.

While Mr Yuschenko's first official trip after he was confirmed president of Ukraine was to Moscow, he has since appointed a key opposition figure in Russia as his advisor for business relations with Moscow.

Ukraine won independence from Russia in 1991.