Russia to take retaliatory measures to NATO's eastward expansion

Parliamentary deputies applaud after a renouncing of Ukraine's "non-aligned" status during a session of a parliament in Kiev, December 23, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

"We are convinced that the Euro-Atlantic slant in Ukraine's external and internal policies is unlikely to help bring the country out of a deep internal political and economic crisis," Lukashevich said.

The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill on Tuesday to abandon the country's non-aligned status, paving the way for it to join NATO.

The new law envisages that Kiev is heading for deepening cooperation with NATO "in order to achieve the criteria which are required for membership in the alliance."

The latest move taken by the Kiev government had come under rounds of strong criticism of Russia, warning that the "big mistake" would lead to instability in the region.