"There never was and never will be a question of rupturing our accord on the anchoring of the Russian fleet in Ukraine," Marchuk said at a press conference following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov.

"The question of the Russian fleet in Crimea and Ukraine's strategy of cooperation with the Atlantic alliance, with the aim of eventually becoming a member, are not mutually exclusive," he said.

Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in 1997 that allowed Moscow to keep its Black Sea fleet in Crimea's port of Simferopol, which housed the fleet during Soviet times, for 20 years.

Some 16,000 Russian sailors and 380 Russian warships are currently based in the port.

Ukraine wants to the join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but the organization is insisting on tough military reforms before the former Soviet republic can be considered for membership.

Kiev signed a partnership accord with NATO in 1997.

WAR.WIRE