Ukrainian president says not afraid of war with Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Sunday that his country is ready to wage war as clashes continued in the surroundings of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

"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," Poroshenko said in an interview with the German daily Bild to be published Monday. 

He stressed: "I am not afraid of a war with Russian troops," adding that Kiev was now better prepared to face a rumored rebel offensive.