US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison has supported Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations.
"Naturally, we will look for further ways to strengthen relations with Ukraine, we see here different options and opportunities. [...] I want to assure you that we will be happy to have such a member in NATO," Hutchison said at the Kyiv Security Forum, answering a question by LB.ua.
"Russia's reaction will not be positive. We learnt from Montenegro's experience that Russia's actions can be aggressive ... [...] But NATO must draw a line between Ukraine and what Russia can dare to do against Ukraine. We will continue our support until Russian forces leave Ukraine," she added.
However, she noted, Ukraine needs to do much to join NATO, not only in terms of reforming the army, but also in the fight against corruption.
Earlier, President Petro Poroshenko ordered the development of amendments to the constitution to affix Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO and the EU.
Last year the Ukrainian parliament passed the law describing Ukraine's NATO membership as one of its foreign policy priorities.