Speaking Tuesday at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, Poroshenko did not, however, specify the volume or the type of weaponry Ukraine would purchase from the UAE but said they would help Kiev protect its territory from the pro-Russia forces.
The arms deal, according to press reports, was struck with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. However, UAE officials have not yet commented on the deal.
The Ukrainian president said following a meeting with top UAE officials that military technical-cooperation agreements were signed to bolster Ukraine’s arms industry, which he said would secure several export orders.
He further described the deals as "extremely important so we have the money to modernize our armed forces.”
Kiev has been calling on its Western backers for months to provide it with lethal weapons but has been running into resistance, particularly from Germany, France and the UK, which fear an escalation and spread of the Ukrainian conflict.