Yesterday, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko greeted troops and inspected equipment confiscated from anti-government forces in the east of the country. While presenting awards to soldiers, he expressed confidence that the unrest would quickly be quelled, and took a strong stance against anti-government forces.
"There will be no fighting in the streets of Donetsk. Residents of both Sloviansk and Donetsk have had it up to here with these terrorists, so there will only be one offer: peace, a laying down of arms, amnesty and a political plan from the President of Ukraine to decentralize power." said Petro Porosenko, Ukrainian President.
The pro-government troops’ re-taking of Sloviansk marks a major breakthrough in Kiev’s three-month long struggle with anti-government forces. Earlier, the Ukrainian government kept up military pressure against anti-government forces, threatening them with a "nasty surprise." But the anti-government forces said they were preparing to fight back, although signs emerged of a split over the fall of Sloviansk. The Ukrainian government’s next plan is to clear them from both Donetsk and Luhansk.
