Ukraine 'shelves bid to join NATO'

[Swede]

Ukraine has told NATO it is shelving its aspirations to join the Western defence alliance because of widespread public opposition and to preserve the former Soviet republic's relations with Russia.

"We have explained that because of the political situation in Ukraine, we will have to take a pause, But the time will come when a decision will be made," new Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich told a joint news conference Thursday after talks with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and NATO ambassadors


http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/14/ukraine.nato.reut/

[acmavm]

1. What? They don't want to get involved in any of our wars

or 'peacekeeping' fiascos?

[Odin2005]

4. More like they still want thier Russian natural gas on the cheap.

If they piss off thier former masters too much Ukrainians might see a sudden increase in thier heating fuel bills...

[dipsydoodle]

2. maybe read "widespread public opposition "

as referring to their troups being used by NATO in Afghanistan wherever.

[ixion]

3. gee, so much for the 'new' Europe

Guess they caught a whiff of BushCo and couldn't stand the smell.

[robcon]

5. Putin put the screws to the Ukrainians.

The Russians' puppet follows his orders.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Probably figured the price of admission

would be a requirement to send a contribution of troops to the Afghanistan quagmire.

[Robbien]

7. This is all about "free trade" and privatization

The price of admission means giving up all rights to their natural resources and labor.

A high price to pay.