You're reading: Poroshenko says Ukraine expects tough international response to May 9 ‘parade’ in Donetsk

Ukraine expects a tough response from the international community to a military parade held in Donetsk on May 9 which involved heavy weaponry, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

During a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on May 12, Poroshenko said that the separatist militants continue to violate the Minsk agreements, including their obligation to withdraw heavy weaponry, Poroshenko’s press service reported.

They conduct shelling and even held a military parade in Donetsk on May 9, where heavy weaponry was displayed. We expect a tough response from the international community, Poroshenko said.

He also said he was concerned about the absence of progress in the liberation of hostages, particularly pilot and MP Nadia Savchenko, who has been illegally held in Russia for 11 months.

In turn, Brende said that Norway has a join border with Russia, like Ukraine, and expects its neighbors to respect international law.

Media reports have said that 1,500 people attended the so-called military parade in Donetsk. T-64 and T-72 tanks, self-propelled artillery systems, Grad multiple rocket launchers, and D-30 howitzers took part in the parade.