Ukraine Need Not Choose Between NATO and Russia

However, in his opinion, one can only arbitrarily speak about Ukraine's neutral and nonaligned status. For all countries enjoying this status situated on geopolitical fault lines have managed to maintain it for a very limited time. Mr. Horbulin is certain the Washington NATO summit must give clear-cut guarantees that the right to join the alliance should be also extended to countries which have not yet applied. Mr. Horbulin criticized "some Russian politicians" who, while developing contacts between Moscow and NATO, do their best to hinder such contacts between NATO and Ukraine. Special advisor to the US Secretary of State for the newly independent states Ross Wilson promised that the alliance's open-door policy would continue, especially with respect to the states that suffered most from the current split of the continent. US Ambassador in Ukraine Steven Pifer said: "It is an erroneous choice for Ukraine to develop good relations either with the West or Russia. Ukraine need not make such a choice."