Russia is warming up for a full-scale INVASION of Ukraine – and Europe is too weak to stop it, warns President Poroshenko
Poroshenko says it's now difficult for his government to get Western support in the crisis gripping Ukraine
UKRAINE'S president has claimed that a "full-scale invasion" from Russia is possible and warns that Europe could be "weak" to fight against the "Russian aggression".
President Petro Poroshenko made the statement at the country's parliament session in Kiev on Tuesday as tensions remain high between both nations over Crimea - an ongoing conflict between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass region.
He said that the European Union (EU) is being tested with the migration crisis, militant attacks and the 2017 elections could see political forces more willing to compromise with the Kremlin take power.
Poroshenko said: "Ukraine will continue to need strong international support in the fight against Russian aggression.
"But securing this support is becoming increasingly difficult for our diplomats due to different objective and subjective factors."
His message comes after the EU is divided over the future of economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its alleged role in the crisis in Ukraine.
He added: "Over the course of the next year, political forces could come to power as a result of elections in several European countries that may not be extremist, but are inclined to compromise with the Kremlin.
"Europe still speaks with one voice, but there are also countries where the Russian accent is already too audible."
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The warning has raised fears of a return to war in the country, where the United Nations has noted an ominous recent surge in violence.
In the last two years, more than 9,500 people were killed in the conflict in Donbas, since separatist violence and a ceasefire agreement is routinely violated.
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia spiked in August after Russia accused Ukraine of planning attacks in Crimea.
In 2014, Russia made several military moves into Ukrainian territory – despite condemnation from much of the world.
At a G20 summit of world leaders in Australia, then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was said to have chastised Russia's President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
He allegedly told Putin: “I guess I’ll shake your hand but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine.”
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