Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the military conflict in Donbas is costing five to seven million euros a day, and called again on his Western partners to provide the country with more financial aid and up-to-date weapons.
"Each day of this war costs our budget five to seven million euros. The infrastructure is ruined, and manufacturing has dropped by 20 percent. We need financial support to overcome the difficulties. We also need a financial 'cushion' to carry out further reforms," Poroshenko told Die Welt in an interview.
Poroshenko also noted that Ukraine expects to receive additional support from the European Union and other partners. Besides, the president called for NATO to enhance its support for Ukraine, including supplying weapons to the country to "defend itself against the aggressor".
Earlier NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the organization is not engaged into supplying weapons to Ukraine. Only separate country members have the right to decide on this issue. On Monday, the New York Times reported that the United States is considering providing Ukraine with lethal assistance as the crisis deepens in Donbas. EU countries have also discussed the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly asserted that the recent military actions in Donbas prove that Kiev wants a military solution to the crisis.
