DHAKA: US president Barack Obama told Ukraine’s president-elect Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday that the US was committed to his country in the long term, as pro-Russia separatists continued to battle Ukrainian troops in the country’s east.

‘The United States is absolutely committed to standing behind the Ukrainian people not just in the coming days, weeks, but in the coming years,’ Obama told reporters after talks with Poroshenko in his Warsaw hotel, adding that he had ‘been deeply impressed’ by Poroshenko’s vision, reports The Straits Times.

Obama also announced the US would be increasing non lethal military aid to Ukraine, including night vision goggles.

Poroshenko, speaking English, thanked Obama for ‘continuous’ support, which he said was ‘crucially important’.

BDST: 1636 HRS, JUNE 04, 2014