MOSCOW. May 26 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian accession to NATO will not be put on the immediate agenda, acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia said.
"I cannot say that this issue [the neutral status of Ukraine] has been added to the text of the constitution. But I can definitely tell you that the question of Ukrainian membership in NATO will not be put on the immediate agenda. This is not envisaged by Ukrainian legislation and this is not a priority of the government program," Deshchytsia said in an interview published by Nezavisimaya Gazeta on Monday.
There are no negotiations to this effect, he said, adding that both the Ukrainian aspirations and the NATO stance mattered.
"As to Ukrainian society, polls show that approximately 38-40% of citizens support the accession to NATO. Their number is growing. But we realize that the public demand for protection within the framework of a strong collective security system emerges amid the undeclared external aggression," Deshchytsia said.
Further development of the situation and Ukrainian public sentiments will depend on Russian steps amongst other factors, he added.