KIEV, July 25 (RIA Novosti) – The United States may grant Ukraine a status of NATO’s privileged non-aligned military partner soon, the former head of the SBU Foreign Intelligence told the UNIAN news agency.
“Exactly this time period when we conduct all the operations I think this aid will be already coming, including with military hardware. It will arrive some time later,” Mykola Malomuzh told the Ukrainian news agency.
Malomuzh said citing his own sources in Washington that the US Senate and the Congress support this decision and could approve it in the coming days.
The status would allow Ukraine to receive expanded funding to buy and lease military hardware and defense complexes, and also the right to get supplies of military hardware and armament during military actions.
As of now, Ukraine retains its non-aligned status, as stipulated in its laws. Kiev cooperates with the alliance as part of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC).
Amid the Ukraine crisis, NATO adopted a range of measures that the alliance said were aimed at protecting allies. In particular, NATO enhanced air patrols of the Baltic states and sent additional ships to the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
The alliance also declared plans to expand the programs of exercises, reinforce the early warning system and enhance reaction forces. Russia earlier described NATO troops increased activities in Eastern Europe near Russian borders as “unprecedented.”
