Ukraine "has no plans to join NATO" - Yatsenyuk

Ukraine "has no plans to join NATO" - Yatsenyuk

KIEV -- Ukraine's new Western-backed prime minister said on Tuesday in a televised address that his country had no plans to join NATO.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that “for the sole purpose of preserving the unity of Ukraine, the issue of accession to NATO is not on the agenda," AFP reported.

“The country will be defended by a strong and modern Ukrainian army,” he said.

Yatsenyuk is still due to sign in Brussels on Friday the political portion of a landmark EU pact whose rejection by the deposed government in November sparked protests that led to its fall, the French news agency said.

He was also quoted as saying on Tuesday that he would "do all in his power to strengthen good neighborly relations between Ukraine and Russia."

"We do not see relations with the EU and Russia according to the 'either-or' principle. Despite the catastrophic worsening of relations with Russia, for which we are not to blame, despite the armed aggression of Russia on Ukraine, I will do all in my power to preserve peace and build a true partnership and good neighborly relations with Russia," Yatsenyuk said, according to Ukraine's Ukrinform news agency.