KIEV, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday proposed to include into Constitution Ukraine's intention to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU).
"I gave the order to prepare the draft amendments to the Constitution, which would enshrine our aspirations for joining NATO and the EU in our fundamental law," Poroshenko told local reporters during a visit to the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine.
In 2014, when the pro-West authorities came to power in Ukraine, Kiev abandoned its multi-vector policy and set a course toward European integration. Besides, the parliament revoked Ukraine's non-aligned status, paving the way for joining military blocs.
Over the past four years, Ukraine has strengthened its cooperation with the EU and dialogue with NATO, but neither organization has promised Kiev near-term membership prospects.
In December 2017, Poroshenko said that in the near future Ukraine will hold referendums on whether to join NATO and the EU.
Any legislation could be enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution only if it supported by the parliamentary majority of at least 300 lawmakers in the 450-seat parliament.