KYIV. Sept 8 (Interfax) - Granting Ukraine the status of a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) of the United States is an outdated idea, and Ukraine's full-fledged admission to the North Atlantic Alliance is essential for the president and his political team, adviser to the head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podoliak said.
"For President Volodymyr Zelensky and our entire political team, Ukraine's full-fledged accession to NATO is absolutely fundamental. Not any statuses 'outside NATO,' but joining the Alliance," Podoliak told Interfax on Wednesday.
In 2017, the Verkhovna Rada had already voted for a similar appeal to the U.S., and now "it is more logical to hold a discussion about the formats and tools for working with NATO and the U.S., which could strengthen common security," he said.
Following Zelensky's visit to the U.S., Ukraine's positions have changed a lot, Podoliak said.
"Ukraine received a major defense agreement signed by the Ukrainian defense minister and the U.S. defense secretary. Ukraine received both support for its course toward NATO membership and specific joint projects with the American side to increase our security. Thus, this status of 'outside NATO' is definitely outdated and a rather restrained idea for Ukraine," he said.
On Wednesday, at an extraordinary session of parliament, MPs did not support an initiative for the Verkhovna Rada to ask the U.S. Congress to grant Ukraine the bilateral status of a MNNA. Twenty-four deputies voted for the relevant resolution (at least 226 votes in support of the resolution are required to make a decision).
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova earlier warned that MNNA status is suitable for countries that do not plan to or cannot join the North Atlantic Alliance, and Ukraine has decided that its goal is NATO membership.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized that Ukraine will be the main ally of the U.S. in NATO, not outside of NATO, and the idea of seeking to have the U.S. grant MNNA status does not bring any "added value" for Ukraine's security.