U.S. army gear could be "Made in Ukraine" under new defence deals

Denys Gurak, Deputy Director General for foreign economic activity at Ukroboronprom state company, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kiev, Ukraine June 29, 2017. Picture taken June 29, 2017 REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Defence agreements announced during a visit by the Ukrainian president to Washington this month will provide Ukraine with access to defensive military equipment of the sort needed to combat Russian-backed separatists in the east.

Kiev trumpeted President Petro Poroshenko's June 20 visit as an important sign of Washington's backing for Ukraine under the Donald Trump administration, especially since Trump has yet to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in office.