Ukraine's defense minister Valery Heletey announced during a press conference Sunday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries started to deliver weapons to Ukraine to help fend off pro-Russian separatists.

During the NATO meeting held in Wales last September 4 to 5, Heletey and defense ministers from NATO countries discussed details about weapons delivery despite the NATO officials' said they will not be sending assistance to Ukraine.

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However, the officials said that individual NATOmember may opt to send assistance if they so choose.

During the first week of this month, a senior Ukrainian official said the country has agreed with several members of the alliance regarding the delivery of weapons, but the United States, together with four other countries, denied the announcement.

Heletey said they have agreed during a closed-door meeting without the presence of the media, and at the time, did not have the right to publicly relay information about the discussion. He said the agreement could stop Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Heletey also said there are over 3, 500 Russian and more than 25,000 pro-Russian separatists have crossed the border.

Meanwhile, Putin continues to deny Ukraine's accusatoins and said he did not send tanks and troops in Eastern Ukraine to support the separatists.

A cease-fire has been negotiated between Ukraine, the separatists, Russia and the European Union (EU) since September 5. Reports say that the ceasefire is still in effect amid violations especially in Donetsk.

Putin recently hinted about a possible nuclear war during a youth conference and told Western countries and NATO members to back off regarding the Ukraine. NATO did say they will not be helping Ukraine, but the U.S. and the EU have announced sanction plans against the violations and actions of Russia.

TagsUkraine, Russia, NATO, Defense Ministry, Valery Heletey, weapons, Military