Ukrainian Armed Forces to get Airbus military helicopters - Poroshenko

He said this during a ceremony to transfer the first two Airbus helicopters to the National Guard and the State Emergency Service, an Ukrinform correspondent said.

"I set a clear task during negotiations that the Ukrainian Armed Forces should be involved in these processes. As part of annexes to this contract, we should have Airbus combat helicopters that will strengthen the combat capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our state. The second stage will be the implementation of this particular direction," Poroshenko said.

At the same time, he said that Ukraine's acquisition of helicopters of foreign production would not hamper the development of the domestic helicopter construction industry.

"The demand for helicopters is extremely great in our country, and this, on the contrary, will increase competition and the speed of modernization," Poroshenko said.

The National Guard and the State Emergency Service received the first two Airbus helicopters on Friday, December 21.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France in March this year signed an agreement for the supply of 55 helicopters by Airbus Helicopters to Ukraine.