The government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has issued a formal statement of intent that it is planning legislation to keep Ukraine out of all military alliances. This would provide a legal block to the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

During Yanukovych's recent election campaign, keeping Ukraine out of NATO was one of his campaign promises.

Ukraine's previous president Viktor Yushchenko had pushed to get Ukraine into NATO, much to the ire of neighboring Russia. Moscow opposes any eastward expansion of NATO.

The statement of intent released by the government says that the proposed legislation would "enshrine Ukraine's nonaligned status in law."

mz/AP/apn
Editor: Martin Kuebler