CRI听力:NATO Weapons on the Way to Ukraine

The Ukrainian Defense Minister says that NATO weapons are already on the way to the country.

Valery Heletey says that he held a one-on-one meeting with his counterparts from unspecified NATO member countries over the delivery of the weapons.

NATO officials have previously said the alliance will not send arms to non-member Ukraine, but individual allies may do so if they wish.

"We were reaching agreements in closed talks, without media, about those things, about those weapons that we currently need. But please understand me, I have no right to disclose any specific country we reached that agreement with. But the fact is that those weapons are already on their way to us - that's absolutely true, I can officially tell you."

The move comes as fighting continues around rebel-held Donestk in eastern Ukraine, piling pressure on a ceasefire deal.

Fighting is reported near Donetsk airport where Ukrainian forces say they have driven back an assault by about 200 rebels.

Meanwhile, the rebels blame government forces for the violence.

A ceasefire negotiated by envoys from Ukraine, the rebels, Russia and Europe's OSCE has been in place since earlier this month.

It is broadly holding despite sporadic violations, especially in key flashpoints such as Donetsk.

The EU and the U.S. have imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia last week over its alleged support to the rebels Ukraine, a claim Russia denies.