Ukraine asks US for 'major non-NATO ally' status

Ukraine's parliament passed a resolution on Wednesday, asking the United States to grant it the status of a major non-NATO ally.

The resolution, addressing US Congress, was backed by 232 lawmakers and cleared the parliament after previously failing to attain the required 226 votes.

"In line with the spirit of the Bucharest Memorandum [on Security Assurances] and the developing strategic partnership between our states we ask the US to consider a defense agreement with Ukraine and grant it the status of a major non-NATO ally," Sputnik cited the resolution as saying.