KIEV, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment stating its commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU).
The amendment was supported by 334 votes in favor in the 450-seat parliament, according to a statement released on the parliament's website.
While commenting on the new law, President Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and NATO are "realistic."
"Just as we have achieved great goals that nobody believed in, we will ensure Ukraine's membership in NATO and the EU," Poroshenko tweeted.
Last month, Poroshenko said that his country will submit an application to join the EU and will start implementing the NATO Membership Action Plan in 2024.
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.
