Ukraine Reiterates Request to Be Granted non-NATO Ally Status

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has voiced his hope that Ukraine will become a non-NATO ally "in the near future".

He made clear he would use his forthcoming trip to Washington to secure such status.

While at an international conference in Kiev attended by EU officials, he also vowed to ensure that the Crimean Peninsula would return to Ukraine, after breaking away following a local referendum in March.

"Crimea will return to us. And it doesn't have to be done by military means," RBC Ukraine quoted him as saying.

"I myself feel as a full member of the EU family," the President also argued, adding the Parliament would ratify the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine next week.

Poroshenko is due to visit the US next week to discuss further Western support for his country amid a crisis in the Donbass region and prolonged economic hardship.