Petro Poroshenko

Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko vows that Crimea will be returned to Ukraine, in an address at a business forum in Kiev.

The Crimean peninsula, was annexed by Russia in March, throwing up an international backlash and war.

He described the loss of Crimea as a “significant problem” but told an international conference in Kiev: “Crimea will be back together with us, not necessarily… by military means.”

He also announced that  parliament would meet on September 16 to ratify an historic association agreement with the European Union.

He said the ratification of the political and trade pact, further signalling Kiev’s move away from Russia’s orbit, would be a “historic moment” for Ukraine.

He hoped to secure a “special status” with NATO for the ex-Soviet country during his visit next week to the United States.

“In a few days I go to the United States where we have a very important meeting with the US Congress (and) the US president… We are also hoping in the very near future for a special status of a non-NATO member alliance,” Poroshenko, speaking in English, told an international business forum in Kiev