Russia on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's possible NATO membership will deteriorate bilateral relations and Moscow would take counter measures accordingly.
Ukraine's likely integration with NATO, if it becomes a reality," will considerably worsen the multi-faceted Russian-Ukrainian relations," Itar-Tass news agency quoted an official from the Foreign Ministry as saying.
"We shall have to take retaliatory steps," the official, requesting anonymity, was quoted as saying.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, however, said that Ukraine "remains in an open dialogue on Euro-Atlantic and NATO integration processes" and will open talks with Russia "on all disputes that it can perceive as a threat to its security."
The Ukrainian government published last week a letter to the NATO chief, pledging to seek membership of the Western military alliance.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov offered "concrete proposals" during a meeting with a top NATO official on Tuesday.
Relations between Kiev and Moscow have witnessed downturns in recent years due to arrays of disputes, such as Russia's surging price for energy supply to Ukraine and the latter's pro-Western policies.
Source: Xinhua
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