Ukraine must become NATO's de-facto partner, if it cannot be its member yet - Yatseniuk

Ukraine is ready to become a de-facto partner of NATO, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said.

"Ukraine must now launch a plan of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' adaptation to NATO standards. If we cannot become NATO's de-jure members now, we can be NATO's de-facto partners," he said in an interview with Ukrainian television channels on Friday.

Numerous military exercises between Ukraine and NATO countries, which are taking place, are helpful in this regard, he said.

"I am convinced that the head of state [Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko] has it as one of key priorities, and those reform programs for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which we have, should be sped up, financed, and we also need help from our American partners," the premier said.

Western aid for the Ukrainian army is essential to safeguarding Europe against Russia, he said.