You're reading: Ukrainian Rada registers bill proclaiming NATO membership as foreign political priority

The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill on amending some Ukrainian laws regarding guarantees of Ukraine's national security, which should put an end to the country's non-aligned status and declare a course toward joining NATO.

The bill, in particular, is aimed at amending the laws on foundations
of Ukraine’s national security and on foundations of domestic and
foreign policy, so as to legislatively proclaim Euro-Atlantic
integration and accession to NATO Ukraine’s strategic foreign political
goals.

The bill was proposed by Batkivschyna parliamentary faction members
Borys Tarasiuk, Valentyn Koroliuk, and Oleksandr Chornovolenko.

“The proclamation of Ukraine’s non-aligned status in 2010 has not
improved Ukraine’s security but, on the contrary, lowered its defense
capability and national security level,” says an explanatory note to the
bill.

“The adoption of the law will help intensify cooperation between
Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and will contribute
to the improvement of Ukraine’s national security,” it says.