Warsaw, April 22 (RHC)-- The United States is selling Patriot surface-to-air missiles to Poland amid increasing tensions between Washington and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. The U.S. embassy in Poland confirmed the deal on Tuesday and described it as “an important moment in the security partnership between Poland and the United States.”

The embassy said in a statement Poland’s choice will simplify joint training exercises with other NATO countries. The five-billion-dollar deal is set to be finalized with the U.S. firm of Raytheon.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said the country's defense minister will travel to the U.S. in May to finalize the contract. Washington’s military deal with Poland comes after the US military began training Ukraine government forces to battle pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.