Ukraine ready to repel any provocations in Donbas - Yermak

Ukraine sees the latest statements by pro-Russian militants in Donbas about their intention to launch "preventive" strikes on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as an outright provocation, and is ready to repel any offensive or attack, according to Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak.

He said this during a webinar organized by the Brussels-based European Policy Center (EPC).

Yermak was asked by an Ukrinform correspondent whether statements by Russian-backed forces in Donbas about "preventive" strikes on Ukrainian troops meant the disruption of the ceasefire and negotiations in the Minsk format, and whether Ukraine was ready to defend itself from Russia's full-scale aggression.

"As for the latest statements by so-called separatists, and many of them have been made, we see them as a provocation. I want to say absolutely clearly that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will adhere to the ceasefire as much as possible. At the same time, if there is any escalation, if there is a threat to the lives of our citizens, our military, they are absolutely ready to repel any provocation, any attempt to attack our positions," Yermak said.

op