(VOVworld) – Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that Ukraine will work on modernizing its military  under threat of a full-out war with Russia because of Russia’s increasing military presence in Crimea.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at a press conference in Kiev  on February 9th (Photo: EPA)

Mr. Poroshenko said Ukraine will strengthen its defense and reform its security sector in accordance with NATO standards. Last year, approximately 70 thousand Ukrainians signed up with the Armed Forces. Ukraine is planning to spend 333 million USD on developing and procuring of weapons in 2017.