By Mark John
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO is ready to speed Ukraine toward closer ties and membership if pro-West presidential frontrunner Viktor Yushchenko wins a revote on Dec. 26, alliance sourcesand diplomats said on Thursday. _
The prospect of Ukraine entering the Western club within as little as five years would be sure to dismay Moscow, which views the ex-Soviet republic as a buffer on NATO's eastern flank. But that would not stop rapprochement if Kiev is ready, they said.
"Of course we must take Russia into account. But if Ukraine is willing, we'll talk to it whether Russia likes it or not," said one NATO source who requested anonymity.
"It's too early to rush into full membership talks just yet," said a second source. "But NATO would want to respond some how to a Yushchenko victory," he said, suggesting NATO could look instead to upgrade its existing lower-level ties with Kiev.
Western governments are remaining tight-lipped on Ukraine's future ahead of the Dec. 26 re-run to avoid fueling Russian accusations of meddling. They stress they will work with any candidate who wins free and democratic elections.
Yushchenko takes on Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich in a re-run of last month's presidential poll second round won by Yanukovich, which was annulled by the Supreme Court after charges of mass fraud.
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