Ukrainian president asks for defensive weapons from abroad

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Saturday that his government was ready for a ceasefire but needed supports including "defensive weapons" from abroad.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing 51st Munich Security Conference, Poroshenko said his government stood ready for a "comprehensive and immediate ceasefire" which was urgently needed in Ukraine.

Ukraine, however, should get capacity to defend itself against the militants in eastern parts of the country with supports from abroad if it did its best to sign up a ceasefire agreement.

Poroshenko asked for its allies to support it with defensive weapons.

"Over the course of the conflicts, we have proven to be responsible that we will not use the defensive equipments to the attack," he said.

Poroshenko's call came as the U.S government was mulling over offering Ukraine lethal defensive weapons as conflicts worsened in eastern Ukraine.

The plan, however, was opposed by the European Union countries who feared the action would exacerbate crisis and intensify its tensions with Russia.

Earlier on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that military means could not solve conflicts in Ukraine and people needed to focus on other options.

"The progress that Ukraine needs can not be achieved by more weapons," she said, adding that there were already a lot of weapons there on the ground.

Merkel and French President Francois Hollande visited Moscow on Friday to discuss ways to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Chancellor told the audience at the Munich Security Conference that it was uncertain whether the Friday talks would succeed, but stressed that it was definitely worth an attempt.

According to Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the tripartite meeting was "constructive and substantial", and a telephone conversation involving Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France was scheduled to be held on Sunday. Endit