Speaking to reporters after talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Oslo, Scheffer said NATO did not plan to interfere in Ukraine's political disagreements about joining the alliance.
"It is up to Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, to decide the pace at which it wishes to move closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions," he said. "NATO and NATO allies are ready to help and we will continue to do so."
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko favors joining NATO while Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych opposes membership.
(with material from dpa)
RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report
RFE/RL Belarus, Ukraine, And Moldova Report
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