Ukraine expects its first deliveries of weapons from the United States within a few weeks, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced Wednesday.

(Picture source: Ukraine Ministry of Defense)

"We are talking about a variety of supplies, first of all, about counter-sniper complexes," Poroshenko told reporters during a press conference in Kiev.

According to the president, the supplies would help to reduce the casualties among the Ukrainian troops participating in the conflict with pro-independence rebels in the eastern part of the country.

In the near future, Ukraine hopes to receive means for electronic warfare and air defense equipment from the United States, Poroshenko said.

In December last year, the U.S. State Department announced the United States would supply advanced weapons to Ukraine to update the latter's defense capabilities.

Washington's move has angered Russia, which said it would lead to "new bloodshed" in Ukraine, whose eastern Donbas region remains in the grip of an armed conflict after almost four years.

Ukraine launched a military operation in Donbas in April 2014 after armed groups seized cities and towns in the region and declared independence.