US Department of State: NATO doors open for Ukraine

It is up to the people of Ukraine to decide whether the country should join NATO.

It was said by Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, as she commented on Ukraine's decision to drop its non-aligned status, the Ukrainian Service of the RFE/RL reports.

Our policy on the question of the future of NATO enlargement I think is – it’s consistent that the door is open, that countries that are willing to contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic space are welcome to apply for membership. Each application will be considered on the merits. This is obviously – any decision on potential NATO membership is one for Ukraine and NATO to make, and we fully support the open door policy, though,” Harf emphasised.

On December 23, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the president's bill to cancel the country's non-bloc status.