The issue of possible NATO membership for Ukraine is not currently on the agenda, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday.
"Ukrainian NATO membership is not on the agenda," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during his first visit to Germany since he was elected president.
Ukraine's previous president Viktor Yushchenko was a strong proponent of NATO membership and pursued firmly pro-Western policies.
A Ukrainian NATO bid by Yushchenko was backed by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. It was turned down at a 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, despite Washington's enthusiasm, due to pressure from Germany and France who were concerned that the move would antagonize Russia.
Ukraine failed to secure membership of the NATO Membership Action Plan, a key step toward joining the alliance, at a NATO summit in April 2008.
The new Ukrainian leader has rejected his predecessor's drive towards NATO, saying that Kiev will stay out of all international defense blocs. Yanukovych abolished Ukraine's National Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration in early April 2010.
BERLIN, August 30 (RIA Novosti)
