ST. PETERSBURG, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Defense and industrial ties between Ukraine and Russia will be torn in a painful and expensive process if Ukraine joins NATO, Russia's defense minister said Wednesday.
"We hear Ukraine's leadership speaking about joining NATO," Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said. "This is a sovereign choice, but in this case, sooner or later, the defense and industry complex of the two countries will be severed naturally."
Ivanov said Russian officials were considering the possibility and planning measures to be taken should Russia's former Soviet neighbor join the Atlantic alliance.
