Ukraine crisis: Petro Poroshenko says country is ‘ready for total war’ with Russia

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko says his country is “prepared for total war” as fighting continues around the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Fresh volleys of artillery fire were heard across many parts of Donetsk overnight, fuelling fears of a military build-up amongst rebel forces.

The latest clashes come amid a nominal ceasefire that has halted fighting along much of the frontline but not stopped regular artillery bombardments at strategic hotspots.

Government forces and rebels have accused each other of violating the terms of the truce, raising fears it could collapse entirely.

A government statement issued in the name of Donetsk city administration said the situation in the city was tense.

“According to residents, powerful volleys and explosions of heavy weapons can be heard in many districts,” it said.

Before the latest reports of shelling, a Ukrainian military spokesman said the weekend had been calmer than in previous days, but warned again of a build-up in separatist forces.

“Compared with previous days, the number and intensity [of shelling] fell, but there are signs of rebels and Russian forces preparing for an offensive,” Andriy Lysenko said in a briefing in Kiev.

The UN said it feared “a return to total war” in the area.

After a week in which Kiev said several unmarked armoured convoys of troops crossed the Russian border to reinforce rebels in the east, Mr Poroshenko toughened his rhetoric, telling the German daily Bild: “I am not afraid of a war with Russian troops.”

“We are prepared for a scenario of total war… we don’t want war, we want peace and we are fighting for European values. But Russia does not respect any agreement,” he said in an interview to be published today.

Mr Poroshenko said Kiev was now better prepared to face a rumoured rebel offensive.

“More than anything we want peace, but we must at the moment face up to the worst-case scenario,” he told the paper.

“Our army is now in a better state than it was five months ago and we are being supported by the entire world.”