U.S., EU understand Kyiv's need for defense weapons – Poroshenko

U.S. and EU officials understand Ukraine's need for defensive weapons because of Russia's aggression in Donbas, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"We in Ukraine are defending Europe from Russian aggression. We all know that after Ukraine [Russian aggression] may be directed at other countries. Russia is testing its most advanced weapons systems in Donetsk… You know that I am for peace, but we are talking about the defense of our country and our people. We urgently need defense weapons. I am convinced the U.S. and Europe know this," Poroshenko told the German Bild newspaper.

According to Poroshenko, there are currently 700 tanks in occupied eastern Ukraine and 1,250 artillery systems, which are being used against Ukraine. Poroshenko said Ukraine is doing everything to ensure peace. It has changed some laws and is abiding by the Minsk agreements. However, Russia continues its aggression.

"The promises made by the Russian government are broken on a daily basis. The situation in certain areas of eastern Ukraine is dramatic. There is incontrovertible proof civilian areas are being targeted deliberately," Ukraine's head of state said, adding that Russia has not once abided by peace agreements during the past three years.

Poroshenko said Crimea remains a part of Ukraine and pledged to do everything in his power to make Russians leave the peninsula.

"There are enormous problems in Crimea now," Poroshenko said.