Ukraine eyes special status in NATO

Ukraine expects to obtain a "special ally" status from the NATO at its upcoming summit in Wales, Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said here Wednesday.

"On the eve of the NATO summit, I would like to emphasise that our goal is to get a special status in partnership between NATO and Ukraine," Xinhua quoted Yatsenyuk as saying in a cabinet meeting.

Stressing that it would be "difficult" for Ukraine to obtain a full membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the nearest future, Yatsenyuk voiced hope that the US will grant Kiev the status of "key ally".

Yatsenyuk called on parliament to promptly pass the bill on the abolishment of the non-aligned status of Ukraine to pave the way for the restoration of the country's course towards NATO membership.

In March 2010, Ukraine's parliament approved a law which bars its membership in any military blocs but allows cooperation.

Ukraine and NATO established their partnership in 1991, shortly after Kiev gained its independence from the former Soviet Union. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but closely cooperates with the alliance and actively participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme.