You're reading: Barroso: Use of regular Russian forces in Ukraine is not acceptable

Brussels - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the situation in Ukraine's eastern part worsened since Wednesday, Aug. 27 and that thousands of foreign troops and hundreds of foreign tanks are now on Ukrainian territory.

“The situation in Ukraine has worsened considerably,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a briefing after the meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Brussels.

“The opening of new fronts and use of regular Russian forces is not acceptable and represents a grave transgression,” Barroso stressed.

Barroso said he had urged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to “change course” in a phone call Friday, Aug. 29.

“No one’s interest is served by new wars on our continent, no one’s interest is served by confrontation,” he said. “This is simply not the way that responsible, proud nations should behave in the 21st century,” Barroso said.

He said that EU is prepared to discuss all the issues, which are of great concern of the Russian side, including because those regarding signing of the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine.

Political concerns should be addressed in a political way, he said.