This status means that Ukraine has officially declared interest in joining the Alliance and can now receive an invitation to join an intensified dialogue with NATO on membership and related reforms.
This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze after talks with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, the "Uriadovy Portal" reports.
"Now, after Ukraine is included in the group of NATO aspirant countries, we also expect to receive the status of a partner country with expanded opportunities, for the countries - non-members of NATO - the highest level of cooperation. These are important tactical steps," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
The official website of NATO says that today 4 countries have announced their intentions to become members of the North Atlantic Alliance in the future. These are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Ukraine.
Also on the website is an explanation of the status of the "aspirant country", under which Ukraine now falls.
"Countries that have declared interest in joining the Alliance are first invited to join the Intensified Dialogue with NATO regarding their aspiration for membership and related reforms," the clarification says.