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Obama refuses to grant Ukraine special non-NATO ally status

U.S. President Barack Obama informed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko after his speech before a joint session of the Congress that Ukraine's requests for lethal aid and special security status as a non-NATO ally had been denied.

By JC Finley
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House on September 18, 2014 in Washington, D.C. (UPI/Pat Benic)
1 of 2 | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House on September 18, 2014 in Washington, D.C. (UPI/Pat Benic) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Thursday was likely a disappointing day for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, whose requests for lethal aid and special security status as a non-NATO ally were both denied by U.S. President Barack Obama.

Poroshenko delivered an impassioned plea for both at a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Thursday.

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When asked whether the U.S. would grant the request for special non-NATO ally status, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday, "I'm not familiar with that specific request."

Despite receiving applause from lawmakers while describing Ukraine's needs in the face of Russian aggression, Poroshenko was told later by Obama during a meeting in the White House that neither request would be granted in the $53 million aid package.

Poroshenko told CNN after his meeting with Obama: "The answer of President Obama was no." Although unsuccessful in those two requests, Poroshenko said that the U.S. was giving Ukraine "more than it had asked for," and that he was satisfied with the level of cooperation.

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