LITHUANIA is to provide Ukraine with some military aid to help in its fight against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

It was not clear, however, if Lithuania was following fellow Nato member the United States in providing non-lethal military equipment, or supplying weaponry.

Nato countries are reluctant to risk being drawn into conflict with Russia by arming a non-member.

"We have agreed on supplies of concrete elements of concrete armaments for the Ukrainian armed forces," Mr Poroshenko said after talks with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. "This is real help." Pressed for details, Ms Grybauskaite said only: "Ukraine will receive all the support available from Lithuania and what Lithuania has."

Ukraine has pressed Nato countries to provide weapons to help it defend itself against attacks by well armed Russian-backed separatists who, before a ceasefire came into effect, inflicted heavy losses on government forces in their fight to hive off parts of Ukraine's east.

Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, popular support for joining Nato has shot up.