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| Nato members 'start arms deliveries to Ukraine' | Nato members 'start arms deliveries to Ukraine' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nato countries have started delivering arms to Ukraine to help its soldiers fight pro-Russian separatists in the east, the defence minister says. | Nato countries have started delivering arms to Ukraine to help its soldiers fight pro-Russian separatists in the east, the defence minister says. |
| Valery Heletey did not give details of the weapons being delivered or name the countries involved. | |
| A similar statement earlier was denied by five Nato members, including the US. | A similar statement earlier was denied by five Nato members, including the US. |
| Ukraine's prime minister says Nato is the "only vehicle" to protect the country from Russia, which he and the West accuse of intervening in the east. | Ukraine's prime minister says Nato is the "only vehicle" to protect the country from Russia, which he and the West accuse of intervening in the east. |
| Moscow has denied sending troops to help pro-Russian rebels who have been engaged in heavy fighting with government forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. | Moscow has denied sending troops to help pro-Russian rebels who have been engaged in heavy fighting with government forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April. |
| At least some 2,600 people have been killed in five months of conflict. | At least some 2,600 people have been killed in five months of conflict. |
| A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September, despite recent outbreaks of violence around key flashpoints such as Donetsk airport. | A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September, despite recent outbreaks of violence around key flashpoints such as Donetsk airport. |
| No lethal assistance | No lethal assistance |
| Mr Heletey told reporters on Sunday that he had discussed weapons deliveries in bilateral meetings with Nato defence ministers during a Nato summit in Wales earlier this month. | Mr Heletey told reporters on Sunday that he had discussed weapons deliveries in bilateral meetings with Nato defence ministers during a Nato summit in Wales earlier this month. |
| "I have no right to disclose any specific country we reached that agreement with. But the fact is that those weapons are already on the way to us - that's absolutely true, I can officially tell you," he said in remarks quoted by Ukraine's Unian news agency. | "I have no right to disclose any specific country we reached that agreement with. But the fact is that those weapons are already on the way to us - that's absolutely true, I can officially tell you," he said in remarks quoted by Ukraine's Unian news agency. |
| While the issue of restoring Ukraine's nuclear arsenal was not on the agenda, Mr Heletey said it would not be ruled out in future. | While the issue of restoring Ukraine's nuclear arsenal was not on the agenda, Mr Heletey said it would not be ruled out in future. |
| Nato officials say they have no plans to send lethal assistance to non-Nato member Ukraine, but that members states may do so. | Nato officials say they have no plans to send lethal assistance to non-Nato member Ukraine, but that members states may do so. |
| But defence officials in Italy, Poland and Norway have all denied plans to provide any weapons. | But defence officials in Italy, Poland and Norway have all denied plans to provide any weapons. |
| On Saturday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to "eliminate his country," saying it was the "key aggressor" in the conflict. | On Saturday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to "eliminate his country," saying it was the "key aggressor" in the conflict. |
| Nato says Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000 more near the border. | Nato says Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000 more near the border. |
| But Russia denies sending direct military help to the rebels, insisting that any Russian soldiers there are "volunteers". | But Russia denies sending direct military help to the rebels, insisting that any Russian soldiers there are "volunteers". |
| Nato has announced the formation of a new "spearhead" force numbering several thousand troops, which can be deployed anywhere in the world in a matter of days. | Nato has announced the formation of a new "spearhead" force numbering several thousand troops, which can be deployed anywhere in the world in a matter of days. |
| It followed growing concern from Nato member countries bordering Russia over its involvement in Ukraine. | It followed growing concern from Nato member countries bordering Russia over its involvement in Ukraine. |