MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Ukraine's intention to change its policy of not joining military blocks is "a sovereign choice made by a sovereign state," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in response to a question asked by an Interfax-Military News Agency correspondent.
Ukrainians "have a perfect right to decide whether to join or leave organizations," he said.
"Russia builds its foreign and defense policy proceeding only from its national interests," the minister stressed.
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said in Kyiv on Wednesday that it was necessary to change the country's policy of not joining military blocks and adopt NATO standards in national armed forces development.
Ivanov returned to Moscow from a trip to the Russian North late on Thursday.