Poroshenko calls on intl partners to step up provision of defense weapons to Ukrainian army

KYIV. Dec 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Fifth president of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity political party and MP Petro Poroshenko calls on international partners to provide the Ukrainian army with assistance in the form of weapons, which will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the European Solidarity press service on December 6, Poroshenko noted the importance of supporting Ukraine by international partners in the face of the threat of a Russian invasion.

"The priority position is the one of assistance to Ukraine in the form of supplying us with defense weapons, which will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Poroshenko said.

He said that Ukraine is not asking "NATO soldiers to fight for our sovereignty, since Ukraine has some of the best Armed Forces in the world that are capable of fighting back."

"However, in order to improve the efficiency of our Armed Forces and to raise the price that [Vladimir] Putin will pay when this decision can stop Putin from this terrible decision, we must restore something like a program of defense assistance to Ukraine, code-named Lend-Lease 2," the MP said.

At the same time, the fifth president said this is not talking about receiving material and household assistance in the form of food sets, clothing or winter fuel.

"We need highly effective modern weapons in the form of air defense systems, electronic reconnaissance systems and obstacles, counter-battery systems, attack drones and other positions that will stop the aggressor from making a terrible decision," Poroshenko said.