KIEV, April 1 -- Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush vowed Tuesday to support Ukraine's bid to join NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the alliance's April 2-4 summit in Bucharest, Romania.

    "Ukraine seeks to deepen its cooperation with the NATO alliance

    through a membership action plan. Ukraine has made a bold decision

    and the United State strongly supports your request," Bush told a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

    He said Russia will not have a veto on what happens in Bucharest.

    Yushchenko said Ukraine's bid to join MAP and NATO answers for the country's national interests.

    "This is not a policy against someone. We just care about our national interest", he stressed.