Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hands fighter jets, APCs and self-propelled guns to the country's army, says peace in the east will be possible, when Ukrainian authority is restored on the whole territory.
REUTERS: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday (January 5) handed modernized military hardware to the army.
Along with armoured personnel carriers (APCs), he also handed two upgraded Mig-29 and two upgraded Su-27 fighter jets and self-propelled howitzers.
The ceremony took place in Zhytomyr region some 140 kilometres from Kiev.
Speaking to the journalists after the official ceremony Poroshenko said he hopes to end the conflict in the east of the country by diplomatic means.
"We will have peace when we have a sealed border, when foreign troops are withdrawn from our territories, and when finally are able to restore the power of the state on the occupied territories. How can this be achieved? This can be achieved by diplomatic efforts. Today the support of the whole world is coordinated by our efforts," Poroshenko said.
This is the third time Ukrainian armed forces get new military vehicles and machinery. Last month the military acquired APCs, tanks, howitzers and other items.
Ukraine's budget for 2015 includes defence spending of 5 billion dollars.
"During this seven months the new Ukrainian army, new Ukrainian forces were born. We can say that by the fighters' spirit, by the equipment this is one of the most powerful armies in Europe," Poroshenko said.
Ukraine has faced months of conflict in the east of the country, where pro-Russian separatists proclaimed people's republics in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Since April the conflict has killed more than 4,000 people, including many civilians. A fragile ceasefire has been holding in the east from September despite both sides accuse each other of regularly breaking it.
Censor.NET: 05. January 2015
Poroshenko conveys 150 units of equipment to Armed Forces: I am honored to be Commander-in-Chief of such a great army
Censor.NET: 05. January 2015
Poroshenko conveys 150 units of equipment to Armed Forces: I am honored to be Commander-in-Chief of such a great army
In the course of the working visit to Zhytomyr region, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has conveyed the Armed Forces more than 150 fighting vehicles and armament produced or fixed by the enterprises of the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine.
At the military airfield in Ozerne, the president has passed on certificates for vehicles, armament, small guns and two MiG-29 and two SU-27 warplanes, Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the head of state.
Addressing the servicemen, the head of state has congratulated them on New Year and Christmas and expressed hope that the year 2015 will become a year of victory and peace for Ukraine. "The new Ukrainian army will be the mainstay and the guarantor of peace for the state," the President said.
"I am honored to be the Commander-in-Chief of such a great army," the head of state noted.
The list of armament includes: fighting vehicles, transporters, military jeeps KrAZ Spartan, automatic mortars and assault small arms. The president inspected all modern weapons and military equipment.
The head of state has thanked Ukroboronprom, Zhytomyr armored tank plant, Kharkiv automobile repair plant, Shepetivka repair plant, Kremenchuk automobile plant, Fort research-industrial association of the Interior Ministry and everyone else involved in this extremely important issue.
Petro Poroshenko has stressed that defenders of the Homeland must be equipped with everything necessary. He also noted the great job of volunteers in the maintenance of the army and the reformation of the Defense Ministry. He believes that the involvement of civic activists to the activity of the Defense Ministry will facilitate prompt modernization of the given institution and the army in general.
Also, the president has presented the troops with state awards.
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