President George W. Bush said today there was no link between bids by Ukraine and Georgia to begin the process of joining Nato and plans to deploy a US missile defence system in Europe.
"That [view] is a misperception," Mr Bush said after talks with President Viktor Yushchenko in Kiev. "I strongly believe that Ukraine and Georgia should be given MAP (Membership Action Plans) and there's no tradeoffs. Period."
Mr Bush said he had made that clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Bush looks set to support Ukraine’s ambitions to secure a MAP at this week's Nato summit in Romania.
Russia opposes the bid by both ex-Soviet states to seek long-term Nato membership and has also criticised US plans to deploy interceptor rockets and a radar in Poland and the Czech Republic.
French Prime Minister Nicholas Sarkozy has also said his country opposed Nato membership for Ukraine and Georgia.
The plan also faces a lack of support in Ukraine, as many Ukrainians see joining Nato as not being a priority: Only 30 per cent of respondents in the state support it.
A few thousand leftist protesters shouted anti-Nato slogans in central Kiev ahead of Mr Bush's arrival yesterday evening. A Kiev court had barred rallies during the visit.