Ukrainian Leader Makes a Push to Join NATO

April 1, 2008 — -- President Bush, heading to his final NATO summit as president, made an overnight stop in Kiev, Ukraine, to meet with President Viktor Yushchenko.

Bush made a joint appearance with the Ukrainian leader and proclaimed "the U.S. strongly supports" Ukraine's effort to join the NATO alliance, despite Russia's strong opposition.

The issue has caused great consternation for some NATO members who fear the matter will only increase the growing tension between the United States and Russia.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' David Kerley, Yushchenko insisted his desire to become part of NATO is nothing more than an effort to secure his country's future.

"Only by joining the collective security system will we be able to eliminate all the threats that have troubled Ukraine for many years in the context of national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Yushchenko said from his office.

A majority of Ukrainians do not support the plan, particularly on the eastern side of the country that borders Russia. Many are Russians and others are loyal to the old communist lifestyle.

That was evident Monday when several thousand people took part in protests around Kiev, one in front of the U.S. Embassy.

"No to war, No to NATO" read one banner. Many carried Soviet era-flags with the hammer and sickle.

Yushchenko dismissed the protests insisting that in time all Ukrainians will support NATO membership. "Twenty years ago, how many citizens of the German Democratic Republic wanted to join NATO? I think not many," he said.

But Germany is leading the opposition and fears that expanding NATO further eastward is not worth the risk of antagonizing the Russians. That decision will be made at the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, where the president heads tonight.

Ukraine's membership, even into the first step toward joining NATO -- the Membership Action Plan (MAP) -- is very much in doubt. There needs to be consensus among all 26 members and while the United States supports its acceptance into MAP, France as well as Germany are opposed.