Kiev (AFP) - For the first time, a majority of Ukrainians support the idea of joining NATO and the president this week spoke of putting the idea to a popular vote, but experts say it still remains a distant dream. <\/p>\n
President Petro Poroshenko, who a decade ago described the promise of eventual NATO membership as \"the light at the end of the tunnel\", said Monday it would take several years of reforms before Ukraine could become a candidate. <\/p>\n
But the new coalition government plans a first step -- dropping its official \"non-aligned\" status -- in a matter of weeks. <\/p>\n
It is including the long-term wish to join the Western security alliance in its official programme, and Poroshenko said voters would eventually decide the issue in a referendum. <\/p>\n
Until recently, polls have consistently shown most Ukrainians would rather stay away from the alliance and out of the crossfire between Russia and the West. <\/p>\n
But with reports of Russian troops and weaponry pouring over their border to support the separatist rebellion in the east, the tide of opinion has swung dramatically. <\/p>\n
A poll this month found 51 percent in favour of joining NATO, up from just 20 per cent a year ago. Only a quarter are now opposed. <\/p>\n
The numbers have risen steadily since Russia annexed Crimea in March. <\/p>\n
\"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's actions are the main cause of the mood change in Ukraine towards NATO, perhaps even the only one,\" said Andriy Bychenko, a sociologist at the Razumkov Centre in Kiev. <\/p>\n
- 'Fluffing his feathers' - <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See more here: <\/p>\n
Ukraine's NATO hopes still a long way off<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kiev (AFP) - For the first time, a majority of Ukrainians support the idea of joining NATO and the president this week spoke of putting the idea to a popular vote, but experts say it still remains a distant dream. Continue reading