KIEV, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The constitutional amendment stating Ukraine's commitment to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) came into force on Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament's press service said.
The law envisages amending the constitution's preamble, three articles and transitional provisions to define the membership in the EU and NATO as Ukraine's strategic goals.
The legislation was passed by the Ukrainian parliament and signed by President Petro Poroshenko earlier this month.
According to Poroshenko, Ukraine will submit an application to join the EU and will get the NATO Membership Action Plan no later than in 2023.
In 2014, when pro-West authorities came into power in Ukraine, Kiev abandoned its multilateral policy and set a course toward European integration. Furthermore, the parliament revoked Ukraine's non-aligned status, paving the way for its membership in military blocs.
Since then, Ukraine has strengthened cooperation with the EU and increased interactions with NATO, but neither organization has promised Kiev immediate membership.
