WHO CARES WHAT RUSSIA THINKS?

Bush backs Ukraine and Georgia for Nato membership (Luke Harding, 4/01/08, guardian.co.uk)

George Bush this morning said he "strongly supported" Ukraine's attempt to join Nato, and warned he would not allow Russia to veto its membership bid.

Speaking in Kiev after a meeting with Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, the US president said both post-Soviet Ukraine and Georgia should be allowed to join the alliance – despite vehement objections from Russia.

In remarks likely to infuriate the Kremlin, Bush said Ukraine should be invited during this week's Nato summit in Bucharest to join Nato's membership action programme, a prelude to full membership.

Only Putin and the Atlanticists still think Russia matters.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 1, 2008 7:35 AM