Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has reaffirmed Kyiv's commitment to the Minsk agreements.
“I am very hopeful that very soon we will see the Ukrainian
territories freed, but I stress once again: Ukraine has strictly abided
by the Minsk agreements, so the Ukrainian armed forces will not go on
the offensive first,” Poroshenko said during a visit to the Shyroky Lan
training base in the Mykolaiv region, his press office said on Saturday.
The aim of the large-scale exercise that was held at the training
range near Mykolaiv is to boost the country’s defensive capabilities,
Poroshenko said.
The president praised the professionalism and high-level skills of
the troops present at the training site, many of whom were mobilized.
“The lion’s share of our military servicemen came from the fourth wave
of the mobilization. Look what a high level they have achieved within
just over a month or two,” Poroshenko said.
The exercise attests to the revival of Ukrainian armed forces over the past year, Poroshenko said.
“We are preparing to defend our country. There is an aggressor, an
enemy in Ukraine now, and we must do all we can on our part to provide
efficient defense. Those who today are taking part in these drills have
brilliantly demonstrated their high level. Today the Ukrainian army is
one of the most combat-capable,” Poroshenko said.
