Ukrainian MPs vote to back NATO membership

‘Ukraine’s parliament has voted to back attempts by the crisis-torn ex-Soviet nation to seek NATO membership, a move set to heighten tensions with Russia.
Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday by a vote of 276 to 25 approved legal amendments enshrining seeking membership in NATO as one of Kiev’s foreign policy priorities.
“The time has come for us to clearly declare Ukraine’s desire to join NATO in Ukrainian legislation,” speaker Andriy Parubiy, who authored the draft bill, told parliament before the vote.
Ukraine is yet to officially apply to start the lengthy process of joining the West military alliance.’
Read more: Ukrainian MPs vote to back NATO membership