Ukraine to receive U.S. radars by mid-November

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. will supply Ukraine with long-range counter-battery radar stations by mid-November as the country continues to fight Russian-backed militants.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke about the matter in a speech delivered at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, according to Ukrinform.

"I am proud that we are finally beginning to obtain military-technical aid from our partner nations. We have been waiting for it for one year," Poroshenko said. " am proud that after meeting U.S. President Barack Obama the special long range counter-battery stations will be delivered to us by mid-November Those stations located tens of kilometers from the front lines will assist us to clearly identify enemy's battery firing locations and by using unique experience and capabilities of our artillery we will immediately strike back at the enemy."

The conflict in Ukraine has drawn strong reaction from multiple world powers. The United States, Britain and NATO partner countries have pledged political and material support for Ukraine's government as it moves to bolster its relationship with NATO. Russian president Vladimir Putin has been criticized by Western governments for his support for rebels holding several key areas in eastern Ukraine.

The United States continues to hold military training exercises aimed at improving combat readiness for local forces. Guided missile destroyer USS Porter arrived in the country in mid-October to support a NATO peace mission.

Britain announced more troop training support for Ukraine earlier in the same month, already committing 19 teams to train 1,600 members of the Ukraine Armed Forces.