Defense minister about prospect of getting lethal arms: ball is on U.S. field, they are to decide

16:44, 15.10.2016 1 min read

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said that Ukraine must do everything depending on it in the creation of the strong armed forces and then count on help of other countries.

"I am deeply convinced that we first must do everything depending on us ourselves to build the armed forces able to protect own Ukraine and then count on help from others and to be independent on a decision of the Senate or governments of other countries. As for the process… [of adopting the bill on the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine in the U.S. Congress] it is to pass a concrete way and decision-making," he said on Channel 5 TV.

Poltorak said that he several times met U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

"They [the United States] understand what we need first of all, but I think that the ball is on the field of the United States and they are to decide," the minister said.

Earlier in September Carter said that the United States continues mulling the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine.