Medvedev: Ukraine’s and Georgia’s joining NATO could threaten European security

Ukraine’s and Georgia’s joining NATO could threaten European security, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's newly elected president commented, in an interview with the Financial Times.

"We are not happy about the situation around Georgia and Ukraine. We consider that it is extremely troublesome for the existing structure of European security," Medvedev said.

"No state can be pleased about having representatives of a military bloc to which it does not belong coming close to its borders."

Mr Medvedev also suggested that joining the military alliance was against the wishes of most Ukrainians, as opinion polls have shown.

"This is . . . even more difficult to explain when the vast majority of citizens of . . . Ukraine, are categorically against joining NATO, while the government . . . follows a different policy," said Medvedev.

George W. Bush, the US president, will travel to Kiev, the Ukraine capital, on the eve of next week's summit after pressing hard for both states to gain MAP status.