Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Russian attentions

(Vatican Radio) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says his former Soviet nation is now in a "real war" with Russia and warns that Ukrainians should prepare for an all-out Russian offensive.

Click below to listen to correspondant Stefan Bos' report:

The President's comments came amid renewed fighting in the east and the capture of what Kiev says are Russian soldiers. Poroshenko told BBC television that he no longer trusts his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as he expects a new Russian offensive in the summer. "I believe that they are preparing for the offensive. And I think that we should be ready for that. But we do not give them any tiny chance for provocation," the President said. "That would be totally their responsibility." He added: "Can I be absolutely clear with you? This is not a fight with Russian-backed separatists, this is a real war with Russia."   

NEGOTIATING WITH PUTIN

But he sees no other option than to continue negotiating with Putin as in his words there is no military solution to a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives in eastern Ukraine.  He spoke amid new clashes between government troops and Russian backed forces that killed at least four Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern Luhansk region since Tuesday. The local governor said the men were attacked by separatist rebels near the village of Katerinovka.  Civilians are suffering as well. Russian television has shown footage of what it said was the aftermath of a Ukrainian army shell hitting an apartment building in Donetsk, killing one civilian. Amid ongoing violence, Kiev claims to have captured two Russian soldiers in Ukraine and plans to prosecute them. Analysts say Ukraine's government may use them as bargaining chips in negotiations over the release of a female pilot captured by Russia.