Poroshenko: Ukraine in EU by 2020

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said his country should prepare to join the European Union by 2020, and hinted admission to NATO was also within his plans.

Making it clear Ukraine's political future is on a Western path, he spoke at the Polish Parliament in Warsaw Wednesday at a ratification ceremony of an association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, steps below full EU membership.

"Poland's signature on a document ratifying the EU-Ukraine agreement marks a historic moment that means Ukraine is entering a new reality on its way towards the EU," he said.

"There were times when Poland was also not welcome and had to fight for its right to be in the European Union," he added. "We will follow your path and will win."

Poland was the first country to recognize an independent Ukraine in 1989, seeking a partner equally eager to separate itself from the Russian sphere of influence.

In his speech, Poroshenko's regular comparisons between Poland and Ukraine brought repeated applause. "Over the past 20 years, Poland has advanced so much, is a member of the EU and has shown it's able to get great results. Ukraine lost many of these years."

Poroshenko also said he would propose Ukraine abandon its non-aligned status and actively seek inclusion in the EU and in NATO, although it would likely be years before it qualified to join NATO.

"Ukraine's non-aligned status, announced in 2010, hasn't guaranteed our security and our territorial integrity which is why in this chamber today I made a decision that the country will return to the Euro-Atlantic security direction. After returning home, I will propose to Ukrainian parliament a bill renouncing my country's nonaligned status."

His comments would likely anger Russia, which has stated Ukraine's inclusion in NATO would threaten its own security. EU and NATO countries are divided on Ukraine's future in either bloc, with larger countries less inclined to aggravate their relations with Russia.