Following independence , Ukraine declared itself a neutral state . The country has had a limited military partnership with Russian Federation , other CIS countries and a partnership with NATO since 1994 . In the 2000s , the government was leaning towards NATO , and a deeper cooperation with the alliance was set by the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan signed in 2002 . It was later agreed that the question of joining NATO should be answered by a national referendum at some point in the future . Recently deposed President Viktor Yanukovych considered the current level of co-operation between Ukraine and NATO sufficient , and was against Ukraine joining NATO . During the 2008 Bucharest summit , NATO declared that Ukraine would eventually become a member of NATO when it meets the criteria for the accession
2008 Bucharest summit
2008 Bucharest summit
Ukraine