Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko (pictured) said attempts to draw Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) compromised the security of Europe, arguing that Kiev doesn't even meet the formal criteria to join the alliance.
"Brussels does not hide this, pointing to the need for reforms, the fight against corruption, and so on," Grushko told Izvestia newspaper in an interview. According to the official, there is no unity in the North Atlantic bloc on the "advisability of accepting Ukraine" as a member state.
In September last year, Ukraine formally applied to join NATO, following Russia's annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine.
