Washington 2014 spent on strengthening the Ukrainian army And to improve its interaction with NATO over 1. 3 billion dollars. About it to "Izvestiya" told the press Secretary of the Pentagon, Eric Pachon. according to his statement, the United States supports Ukraine's desire to join the Alliance, however, this process interferes with the territorial issue, for example, " Crimean problem." "We welcome Ukraine's desire for membership in NATO And strongly support the right of the state bespripyatstvenno to choose their own future And political course without external interference," said Pachon. in February came into force the law on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, which enshrines the country's course towards membership in NATO And the EU. Also, the Verkhovna Rada in the early winter of 2014 didn't want non-aligned status of the country. The former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had previously said that joining the Alliance Ukraine will need to reach the number of signs, the implementation of which will take large number of time. Experts believe that Kyiv will have the opportunity to apply for membership in NATO in the next 20 years. Crimea became a Russian region after held there in March 2014 referendum. A large number came to the polls voted for joining Russia. Crimean authorities held a referendum after a coup in Ukraine in February 2014. in the capital of Russia many times stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically in full compliance with international law And the UN Charter voted for reunification with Russia. According to the President V. V. Putin, the Crimea issue " is closed permanently." <span style="color:darkgray