The Ukrainian president has dissolved the government's commission working toward NATO membership, a sign that the country's ambitious pro-NATO course is over. Viktor Yanukovych per decree dissolved the commission set up by his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko, who was on poor terms with Moscow.

By a separate decree, the president closed another structure responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. The bill, which may soon be presented to the parliament should fix the non-aligned status of Ukraine, but the Law on National Security of 2003, under which Ukraine's future is connected with NATO, remains in effect.