Poland denies arming Ukraine

An Ukrainan soldier stands guard at a still smouldering burnt out military truck on a road in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, 07 September 2014. Media reports state that shelling was heard and explosions seen in Mariupol overnight 07 September although Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had said on 06 September that the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was holding. EPA/Anatoly Maltsev

Ukrainian diplomat Yuriy Lutsenko, an adviser to President Poroshenko, announced on his blog for the 'Ukrainska Pravda' newspaper that Poland, Norway, Italy, France and the United States had agreed to supply such military aid.

“No arrangements were made at the NATO summit concerning the delivery of modern weapons to Ukraine,” affirmed Colonel Jacek Sonta, a spokesman for the defence ministry.

The United States, Italy and Norway have also denied Lutsenko's claim.

However, during the summit in Newport, Wales, EU member states agreed to allocate 15 million euro in aid to Ukraine. Kiev is also due to receive further aid from individual member states, and this will be channelled towards areas such as cyber security, logistics and the rehabilitation of veterans.

Ceasefire and Russian sanctions on the line

Meanwhile, President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy said on Sunday that further sanctions against Russia could be dropped if the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine holds.

The ceasefire was supposed to begin on Friday, but shots were heard in separatist-held Donetsk in the early afternoon on Sunday.

On Saturday night, there was also evidence of fighting near the government-held city of Mariupol.

“There have been a few incidents since the time [of the ceasefire declaration], so we have to wait and assess the situation.

EU member states are set to confirm whether further Russian sanctions are going ahead on Monday. (nh)