Ukraine urges Russia to end threats

KIEV, Ukraine, April 12 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Saturday Russia should "stop the practice of threats" over Ukraine's attempts to join NATO.

After the chief of Russia's General Staff, army Gen. Yury Baluyevsky, said Russia would likely increase its border security if Ukraine joined the international organization, the Ukrainian ministry said such comments interfered with the country's affairs, RIA Novosti reported.

"Statements by high-ranking Russian officials are ... anti-Ukrainian... and are direct interference in Ukraine's internal affairs," the Foreign Ministry said.

The United States has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and Georgia's bid to join NATO, but on Thursday NATO members postponed an official membership offer to the organization's Membership Action Plan.

The NATO members said the potential membership offer to Georgia and Ukraine would be revisited in December, the Russian news agency said.