Polish PM: We're dealing with war in Ukraine





Poland's PM Donald Tusk

Commenting on the recent developments in Ukraine’s cities of Odessa, Karmatorsk and Slavyansk, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Saturday that Russia is waging an undeclared war on Ukraine.He added that since Friday he has been in continuous contact with the foreign affairs, defense and interior ministers.Tensions in Ukraine heightened sharply after at least 42 people died in clashes between government supporters and armed pro-Russia demonstrators in the Black Sea port of Odessa on Friday.On Saturday, international media reported that fighting broke out in Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, about 15 kilometers south of Slavyansk seized by separatists, as the interim government launched the operation there to combat pro-Russia militias who have seized government buildings.Tusk said that the situation in Ukraine is very serious. The dramatic events in Odessa, Slavyansk and Karmatorsk show that what we are dealing with is in fact a war. “Maybe it is a war of a different type, an undeclared war on Ukraine waged by Russia”.“There are dozens of victims, rockets, weapons are used, helicopters are being shot down, and all this is being done by separatists’, Tusk said.In his opinion the military confrontation in Ukraine is organized not by demonstrators but by” a state, in this case by Russia”.“You can clearly see that the international community's reactions and sanctions on Moscow have had no effect on the conflict”, he added."We're losing hope that there's still space for diplomatic initiatives”, Tusk also said.Tusk said the European Union and NATO should seriously plan steps to improve the safety of their members in this part of Europe.