Russia calls Ukraine's decision to drop non-aligned status 'counterproductive'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticised Ukraine's decision to drop the country's non-aligned status, calling it "counterproductive".

According to News 24, speaking on television, Lavrov said that the move "creates an illusion that through this bill, through an aspiration to drop non-aligned status and join Nato - which Ukrainian politicians openly talk about - one can settle a deep crisis of the Ukrainian state."

He said that it was "necessary to put an end to confrontation and start an open, all-inclusive dialogue including with those who rejected the anti-constitutional military coup and refused to bow to Kiev."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to seek Nato membership in response to Russia's support to rebels in eastern part of the country.

However, it remains unclear as to when Ukraine plans on applying for Nato membership.

The BBC reported that many officials see Ukraine's Nato ambition as a distant prospect.

The move to drop the non-aligned status was backed by a large majority of MPs (303 to eight) during a vote in Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday.

Speaking before the vote, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that "this will lead to integration in the European and the Euro-Atlantic space.