KYIV. July 10 (Interfax) - Kyiv is beginning a discussion on a membership action plan with NATO, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.
"As we clearly said today, we believe we need to start a discussion on granting us a membership action plan, and our proposals regarding such a discussion were accepted with pleasure," Poroshenko said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Kyiv on Monday.
Ukraine doesn't meet NATO accession criteria at the moment, he said.
"We have a plan for these three years, through 2020. We know clearly what to do. It's the first time Ukraine has a clear road map of what is to be done and when, and when Ukraine will meet the criteria, when reforms are implemented," he said.
Stoltenberg said NATO would continue supporting Ukraine on its path to closer relations with the alliance and assist it in pursuing reforms and switching to NATO standards.
It is solely for the NATO members and Ukraine to decide on NATO membership when the time is right, he said.