A total of 303 lawmakers voted in support of the bill easily surpassing the 226 votes required to pass it.
Immediately after the legislation was passed, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko welcomed the results of the vote.
"The bill cancelling non-aligned status is passed. 303 votes supported it. Glory to Ukraine," Poroshenko wrote on his official Twitter web page.
Ukraine's non-aligned status was outlined in a 2010 law signed by then-president Viktor Yanukovych and stipulating that Ukraine would not seek membership of military-political alliances.
In August, Ukrainian authorities announced their decision to abolish the country's non-aligned status and resume Ukraine's course towards NATO membership. According to Poroshenko, Ukraine’s non-aligned status meant no guarantees of its safety and therefore needed to be cancelled.
On November 21, five Ukrainian parties, including the People's Front, signed a draft coalition agreement signaling that NATO membership would be one of the top priorities of Ukraine's new government.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated repeatedly that Ukraine's non-aligned status is in the best interests of the Ukrainian people, the country's neighboring states and European security in general. He has also let it be known that the issue is a matter of principle for Russia.
