“The head of state announced that Ukraine has contracts with a range of EU countries on delivery of weaponry, including lethal,” a statement on Poroshenko’s official website said.

According to the statement, the European Union has lifted its embargo on arms deliveries to Ukraine. The restrictions were introduced in February 2014 to prevent the government of then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from allegedly using weapons against its own people.

The Obama administration said Wednesday it will provide an additional $75 million in non-lethal military aid to Ukraine to help Kiev-led forces in the fight against armed militia in the contested south-east of the country.

The aid will include 30 armoured Humvees and up to 200 unarmoured Humvees, as well as counter-mortar radars, unarmed drones, radios and medical equipment.

In February, senior EU officials from Germany and UK, among others, ruled out supplying Ukrainian armed forces with weapons in present circumstances. This came after Washington said it was considering whether to supply lethal aid to Kiev, raising European fears about further escalation in eastern Ukraine.