Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (R) and U.S. President George W. Bush shake hands during a news conference in Kiev April 1, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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George Bush Backs Up the NATO Effort of Ukraine
U.S. President George W. Bush has supported Ukraine’s and Georgia’s ambitions for joining NATO. The president made the respective statement in Kiev during the news conference held with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
Bush said he would press for Ukraine and Georgia to be allowed to join the Membership Action Plans (MAP) at the Bucharest summit this week.
"Your nation has made a bold decision, and the United States strongly supports your request… Helping Ukraine move towards NATO membership is in the interest of every member in the alliance and will help advance security and freedom in this region and around the world," Bush told the reporters Tuesday, vowing they won’t look for any compromise with President Putin.
Bush said he had informed Russian President Vladimir Putin about his standing during the recent telephone conversation. According to Bush, he told Russia’s president that he goes to Bucharest to get the MAP for Ukraine and Georgia and urged him not to fear it, as NATO is the peaceful alliance.
Bush said he wouldn’t attempt to guess the decision of summit but his stop in Kiev is a clear signal.
U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Ukraine today to hold the one-plus-one negotiations with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. The presidents intend to canvass a number of issues, including Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO.
Georgia and Russia count on getting the MAP at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April of 2008. But Russia resists the eastern expansion of the alliance, seeing it a threat to security.
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