Vatican City: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Saturday that Russian military aircraft had crossed the country's airspace seven times "to provoke Ukraine to start a war."
"Russian military aircraft today overnight crossed and violated Ukrainian airspace seven times. The only reason is to provoke Ukraine to start a war," he told journalists at a briefing in Rome, following a meeting with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
He said the seizure of 13 international OSCE observers by pro-Kremlin rebels who accuse them of being "NATO spies" was "another proof and evidence that these so-called peaceful protesters with Russian ideas are terrorists."
The Ukrainian premier - who is cutting short his trip will miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII because of rising tensions in the eastern part of the ex-Soviet country - said "Russian aggression aims to undermine global stability."
Yatsenyuk met Pope Francis for a private audience on Saturday, and said he had "asked his Holiness to pray for my country and peace in Europe."
"This is where Ukrainians fought for their freedom and rights. Millions of people," he said.
As the two leaders parted, Francis put his hand on his chest and said "I will do everything possible" for peace.
"Russian military aircraft today overnight crossed and violated Ukrainian airspace seven times. The only reason is to provoke Ukraine to start a war," he told journalists at a briefing in Rome, following a meeting with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
He said the seizure of 13 international OSCE observers by pro-Kremlin rebels who accuse them of being "NATO spies" was "another proof and evidence that these so-called peaceful protesters with Russian ideas are terrorists."
The Ukrainian premier - who is cutting short his trip will miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII because of rising tensions in the eastern part of the ex-Soviet country - said "Russian aggression aims to undermine global stability."
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Yatsenyuk met Pope Francis for a private audience on Saturday, and said he had "asked his Holiness to pray for my country and peace in Europe."
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"This is where Ukrainians fought for their freedom and rights. Millions of people," he said.
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As the two leaders parted, Francis put his hand on his chest and said "I will do everything possible" for peace.
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