Ukraine-NATO Commission

Ukraine celebrated 30 years of independence on Tuesday (24 August) with a military parade and massive festivities in its capital Kyiv, vowing to reclaim territories annexed by Russia, in order to join NATO and the EU and escape Moscow's stranglehold.

Ukraine has filed a "special partnership" request with NATO, state news agency UNIAN has said.

The document was sent in an official letter from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, before a Ukraine-NATO Commission meating in Brussels.

The idea is to become part of the program of enhanced opportunities for special partners of NATO.