U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 13, 2008, during a hearing on the President's Foreign Affairs Budget.
Photo: Reuters
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Russia’s Threats Toward Ukraine Are Unacceptable, Rice Said
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has criticized the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin made after the talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Rice was particularly agitated about Putin’s response to the possible expansion of NATO to Ukraine.
According to Rice, Putin’s words about aiming the missiles at Ukraine, if it ultimately decides to host the U.S. missile-defense installations like Poland and the Czech Republic, are unacceptable. Washington is for the independence of Ukraine, the U.S. secretary of state emphasized.
It’s terrible to say, even to think that Russia could aim its missile systems at Ukraine in response to such possible deployment, Putin said, giving rise to the heated rhetoric of the U.S. official of highest rank.
Ukraine will have no NATO bases on its soil, Viktor Yushchenko announced Wednesday. Although Kiev wants to join NATO, it is well aware that it will hardly happen in the nearest future. Ukraine could become the NATO member no sooner than in 10 years, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko made clear when addressing the alliance past week.
www.kommersant.com
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