Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenkomet in Kiev on Monday with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss Kiev's contentious bid to join the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).

"Decision making in NATO is by the 26 allies and by them only...nobody else will take this decision but the 26 allies," the NATO chief told a news conference after the meeting, dismissing the idea of a Russian veto.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (L) attends a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Kiev, Ukraine, June 16, 2008. A NATO delegation led by Jaap de Hoop Scheffer arrived in Kiev on Monday for talks on Ukraine's NATO membership issue. (Xinhua Photo) 

The development of relations between Ukraine and NATO is not directed against any third country, he emphasized.

De Hoop Scheffer pledged to help put Ukraine on the track to membership but refrained from giving specific dates. Ukraine must continue with reforms to qualify for NATO membership and the alliance is ready to provide support and assistance, he said.

However, de Hoop Scheffer declined to predict whether Ukraine would be approved as an official candidate for NATO membership this year.