Kiev : He added in opening remarks that his generals should be ready to strike back at the insurgents if they continued to violate the terms of a September truce deal signed by the warring sides and Russia.
"We have pulled up extra reserves, and if the enemy does not want to respect the ceasefire, if the enemy does not want to end the suffering of civilians... we will be ready to hit them in the teeth," said Poroshenko.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday that pro-Russian rebels had paid a "high price" for their escalating attacks on government forces across the separatist east.
"Our enemy paid a high price for its opportunistic attacks on our armed forces," his office quoted Poroshenko as telling an emergency security meeting convened after Kiev's decision to give up its months-long defence of Donetsk airport in the east.
Poroshenko said he intended to award medals to a skeleton force of Ukrainian paratroopers who had managed to hold on to the prized site despite being surrounded and outnumbered by the heavily armed militants.
"We have pulled up extra reserves, and if the enemy does not want to respect the ceasefire, if the enemy does not want to end the suffering of civilians... we will be ready to hit them in the teeth," said Poroshenko.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Welcomes India's Engagement In War Between Russia, Ukraine India Urges Citizens In Russian Regions To Relocate Over Security Concerns Ukrainian Troops Moving Further In Russia's Kursk, Says Zelensky Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing "Pivotal Moment": Key Doctor Body Resumes Strike 2 Days After Calling It Off Leaders React To NDTV Story Which Led To Probe Into Man's Dissappreance "Education No More Affordable:" Bengaluru Man Reacts To Rs 3.7 Lakh LKG Fee Woman Shares Series Of Harassment Incidents On Delhi-NCR Streets Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.