Ukraine should receive defensive equipment says Polish PM

Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, has said that the EU should do everything to supply defensive equipment to Ukraine.

Speaking before an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday he also said that the EU should be determined in its resolve to impose sanctions on Russia.

"They (Ukrainians - PAP) do not need our words of compassion, they need defensive arms and sanctions," Morawiecki said.

"They have been fighting for their freedom and independence; they have been fighting for the free world," Morawiecki continued, adding that as they had been fighting "for us, for the EU, it is our duty to offer them assistance."

Morawiecki also said that the EU should not tolerate a situation when the Russian Stock Exchange has opened and Russia was trying to force the EU to pay for Russian crude oil and gas in roubles.

"We should not accept this politics. We should be doing everything to deliver defensive equipment to Ukraine... and respond to Russia with our sanctions," Morawiecki repeated. "This is the only way to stop the war."

He also said that Poland had suggested a humanitarian mission to Ukraine, to be formed by Nato and EU countries, which are not alliance members.

"It is difficult to believe that such a massacre could happen without an appropriate humanitarian response," Morawiecki said, adding that this was the reason behind Poland's call for support of Ukraine.