KIEV -- Ukrainian parliamentarians have said security assurances offered by nuclear states in exchange for Ukraine formally renouncing nuclear weapons had fallen short of their expectations.


In the corridors of parliament Tuesday, many deputies criticized the security assurances that Ukraine received from the United States, Russia and Britain.


"At least we have this. But it won't resolve Ukraine's security issues," said former president Leonid Kravchuk.


"If tomorrow Russia goes into Crimea, no one will even raise an eyebrow," he told reporters.


The security assurances Kiev obtained are largely standard, but include an agreement to refrain from using economic coercion and respect its borders.


Taras Stetskiv of the assembly's legal policy commission said Ukraine would seek a political deal with nuclear states to cover the lack of security guarantees.