You're reading: International Business Times: Turchynov seeks parliamentary approval to conduct joint NATO exercises after firing military chief; Russia blames Ukraine for mistreating Aeroflot crew

Ukraine's President Oleksandr Turchinov, who sacked the country's defense minister in charge of the Ukrainian military when Russia annexed Crimea and appointed his nominee to the position, has asked for parliamentary approval to conduct joint military drills with NATO in the country, news reports said Wednesday.

Turchinov’s request, if approved, would bring troops from the U.S. and European Union, or EU, into close proximity with the Russian military, which now occupies the Crimean peninsula, Agence France-Presse reported.

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