Ukrainian Parliament Approves Bill to Facilitate NATO Membership

On Tuesday, December 23, the Ukrainian Parliament annulled a law prohibiting the country's membership in various "blocks," which had been introduced by former President Viktor Yanukovych. According to reports, Yanukovych had passed a law in 2010 that banned Ukraine's membership in different blocs. Last week, President Petro Poroshenko submitted a bill to Parliament that paves the way for the country's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by repealing the previous law. The bill was approved with 303 votes in favor and eight against. According to AFP, Poroshenko told foreign ambassadors in Kyiv on Monday night that Ukraine's struggle for independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty has become a decisive characteristic in its relations with the world. According to Reuters, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin stated after the vote that Ukraine would move towards integration with the European Union and the West. NATO membership for Ukraine will take years, but a spokesperson for the military alliance in Brussels said: "Our doors are open, and Ukraine can become a NATO member if it requests and meets all necessary standards." Meanwhile, Russia described the Ukrainian Parliament's vote as an "unfriendly" act. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the Itar-Tass news agency that the vote was unconstructive and would increase tensions. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also stated that the approval of the law against membership indicates Kyiv's intention to integrate into NATO as quickly as possible. Before the Ukrainian Parliament approved the president's bill, French President François Hollande had said on December 18 that peace talks between the central government of Ukraine and Moscow-backed separatists could resume in Minsk, Belarus. The Ukrainian president also expressed hope last week for a meeting in Minsk between members of the contact group involved in negotiations with the rebels. Separatists and the central government of Ukraine reached a form of ceasefire last September, with discussions ongoing in Minsk. The United Nations reports that since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in mid-April, over 4,700 people have been killed in the country. A recent UN report also indicates that with the onset of winter, over five million residents in war-torn eastern Ukraine are enduring harsh conditions without water or heating equipment despite the cold weather.