The memorandum "establishes a legal basis" that in effect cuts the red tape required for NATO to stage joint military exercises with Ukraine under the Partnership for Peace program extended to Eastern European and former Soviet republics.

Urkaine for its part is obliged to provide technical and medical assistance to NATO soldiers while they are stationed in the republic, said Michel Drey of the NATO information office.

Ukraine has repeatedly voiced intentions to join the Brussels-based alliance, although it would require a massive overhaul of its ageing Soviet-era military in order to qualify, one which the country has been unable to afford.

Bruce Jackson, the head of NATO's enlargement committee, said this week that Ukraine's questionable record on media rights and corruption allegations swirling around the current government also posed a problem for early membership.

The expansion would likely be met with fury by Russia, which fought a bitter losing fight against NATO membership of the three former Soviet Baltic republics bordering its territory.

Russia argues that expansion shows that NATO views Russia as a threat rather than a partner.

WAR.WIRE