US President Barack Obama's administration has moved to stop large multi-nationals from channelling money overseas to avoid paying tax on them. Photo: Reuters

The United States is to sell medium-range cruise missiles to Poland as the eastern European country continues to bolster its defences following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.

The sale of 40 air-to-surface AGM 158-missiles, which have a low radar profile and can carry a 1,000lb warhead, was approved by the US State Department yesterday.

The weapons can strike targets up to 250 miles away, further than the distance from Poland to Russia's western border, and will be used as a "deterrent to regional threats", the State Department said. The Polish air force's current missiles have a maximum range of 43 miles.

There was no comment from Moscow.

Security

The State Department said the sale "would contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally. Poland continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Central Europe."

The deal forms part of a pounds €390 million package that also includes upgrades to Poland's 48 F-16 jets.

The Polish government also announced that it was prepared to sell arms to Ukraine, if its neighbour asks for them.

"I confirm that the Polish defence industry is interested in taking this direction," Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's defence minister, said.

So far NATO has rebuffed pleas for weapons to help Ukraine in its struggle against Russian-backed forces fighting in its eastern territories.

Valery Heletey, Ukraine's defence minister, claimed earlier this month that he had discussed weapons deliveries in meetings with NATO defence ministers during the alliance's summit in Wales earlier this month.

"We reached agreements about... those weapons that we currently need," he said. (© Daily Telegraph London)

Irish Independent