NATO entry takes pragmatic approach

"One should not think Ukraine's integration with NATO will worsen her relations with Russia," Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said, addressing military college students on the Defender's Day occasion, the Defense Ministry press service told.

According to him, it is necessary to stop thinking "either NATO or good relations with Russia". He expressed confidence that Ukraine has to work a lot to reach the level of Russia's cooperation with NATO, according to government's press office.

The issue of Ukraine's entry in NATO is over-politicized and takes pragmatic approaches. Ukraine has an alternative: participation in collective security systems or maintenance of the Armed Forces that would do on their own, he says.

According to Yekhanurov, orientation at NATO implies obtaining European experience of creating modern Armed Forces.