Ukraine hopes for the U.S. decision on the provision of lethal weapons, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy has said.

"Once again I want to thank you for the help we receive from you: non-lethal equipment, joint drills of our military and the U.S. military, a very important assistance provided to our wounded military. Ukraine continues to hope for a decision on lethal weapons," Parubiy said at a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He told the U.S. assistant secretary of state that Russian military have recently stepped up their activities in eastern Ukraine. "We're simply surprised by such an outbreak of aggression that has lasted for more than a month. In fact, we are deliberately provoked along the entire demarcation line," the speaker said.

"And we need to say this out loud to the world that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin doesn't fulfill the Minsk agreements, and furthermore pointedly ignores them," Parubiy added.

The parliament speaker thanked the U.S. for its active stance in support of Ukraine at the international level, which plays a key role in the issue of the extension of sanctions against Russia. "I am sure that this issue is important not only for Ukraine but also for the entire international community, that the one who violates our security system, should be held responsible, and be punished," he said.