Almost all the weapons in the Armed Forces of Ukraine need to be replaced or upgraded over the next three years, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.
"In 2012-2015, almost all of the main types of weapons will have to be replaced or upgraded," the president said during a meeting with students of Kyiv’s Bohun Military Lyceum on Thursday.
According to the president, the main purpose of the military reform is to create efficient and mobile army, which will be capable of ensuring the country’s security.
In addition, Yanukovych believes that the Ukrainian army should join international peacekeeping efforts.
Despite the economic crisis, government funding of the Ukrainian army has been growing since 2010, including a rise of almost UAH 3 billion last year alone, the president said. At the same time, he said that the priority area for army funding is its modernization.
The next step in the armed forces reform will be streamlining its management and structure, he added.
The president said that the funding of the army would grow each year with a view of bringing it to an average level of that in neighboring EU countries and Russia.
