( ForUm ) - Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin stated that if Ukraine joins NATO, relations between Russia and Ukraine will be changed. He said that yesterday during telephone-conference with Komsomolska Pravda newspaper. "Our relations cannot but change if Ukraine joins NATO. It is natural. We are strongly integrated," he said.
Chernomyrdin has stressed once more that Russia is against Ukraine's accession to NATO. "Does somebody threaten Ukraine, does somebody attack Ukraine? What is behind that?" he asked.
According to Chernomyrdin, in case Ukraine wants to cooperate with terrorism and drug traffic, such cooperation is possible to be carried out on Intergovernmental level. At that he noted that NATO is military bloc, equipped by nuclear weapon.
"What is behind it? Does anybody explain Ukrainians what NATO is and why Ukraine needs it? he noted.
"If somebody threatens Ukraine, Russia will defend Ukraine," he added.
At the same time, Chernomyrdin stated that issue on accession to NATO is inner business of Ukraine.