KIEV, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine may join the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in a medium-term, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Tuesday.
In an interview with a local TV-channel "1+1," Klimkin said Ukraine may obtain the membership in each of the blocks not earlier than in five years.
The minister has emphasized the need to accelerate the reforms in Ukraine to get a chance to integrate into the EU and NATO.
Last year, the Ukrainian parliament approved in the first reading a bill on including Ukraine's goal to join NATO and the EU in the constitution.
In 2014, when pro-West authorities came into power in Ukraine, Kiev abandoned its multilateral policy and set a course toward European integration. Furthermore, the parliament revoked Ukraine's non-aligned status, paving the way for its membership in military blocs.
Since then, Ukraine has strengthened cooperation with the EU and increased interactions with NATO, but neither organization has promised Kiev immediate membership prospects.
