Western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko has made NATO membership a priority since coming to power in 2004, but has met with strong opposition on the issue from pro-Russian political forces in the country.
"We separated NATO membership from the issue of normal mutually beneficial cooperation with the alliance, which is a key guideline for the government's work in relations with the alliance," Viktor Yanukovych said after a session of the Ukraine-NATO commission in Brussels.
"The issue of Ukraine's joining NATO will be resolved by a nationwide referendum, and time will tell when the need to hold it arises."
He said it was premature to hold the referendum, as a number of social and economic reforms need to be implemented first to improve the living standards of the population.
Yanukovych said Ukraine's accession to NATO needed the support of people at large, and not the current 12-25% of the population.
Ukraine's line toward NATO has particularly displeased Russia, which is anxious about the approach of NATO bases closer to its borders.
In this respect, Yanukovych said it was in Ukraine's interests to maintain strategic relations with Russia. "This completely suits Ukraine's strategic interests," he said.
