Yanukovych confirms no plans to take Ukraine into NATO | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire: “Ukraine has no intention of bidding to become a member of NATO, Viktor Yanukovych said on Friday as Western leaders congratulated him on winning the former Soviet republic’s presidential polls.
A Ukrainian NATO bid pushed by outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko was strongly backed by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. But despite Washington’s enthusiasm, it was turned down at a 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest due to pressure from Germany and France, who were concerned that the move would antagonize Russia.
NATO stated however that Ukraine, along with fellow former Soviet republic Georgia, would join the alliance at an unspecified date in the future.”