"Ukraine's non-aligned status that was announced in 2015 did not and could not guarantee the security and territorial integrity of Ukraine and it needs to be recalled," Poroshenko said during his address to the parliament.
Poroshenko also added that "some militarization" of the society is inevitable in the country.
Ukraine's non-aligned status was outlined in a 2010 law signed by then-president Viktor Yanukovych. In August, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk introduced legislation to the country's parliament that would drop the non-aligned status, and started a campaign to join NATO.
On Monday, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko stated that Ukraine joining NATO would be decided by a referendum, to be held when Ukraine has met the alliance's requirements.
Ukraine to Boost Military Spending
"We have no other choice but to increase military spending, and for this purpose a draft budget will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada soon," he said during his address to the parliament.
Earlier in November, Poroshenko said that Ukraine had plans to keep its military spending at no less than three percent of the country's GDP in 2015.
According to the president, Ukraine's government was tasked with working out a budget for 2015 that would prioritize the funding of defense programs.
The president's press service also said that Kiev would sign international agreements with other countries to "obtain security safeguards for Ukraine" and defend Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Ukraine has been pouring money into its military in light of the crisis in southeastern Ukraine after Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in the country’s southeast, who refused to accept the legitimacy of the government that came to power after a coup in February.
