(VOVworld) – Russian and Ukrainian border guard officials are scheduled to hold their first border control consultations on Saturday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said at an urgent meeting of the country’s National Security and Defense Council on Thursday. He added that the heads of the General Staffs of Ukraine and Russia held first consultations to discuss issues of state border control and the necessity of preventing Russian military formations from crossing into Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Poroshenko at the urgent meeting with the National Security and Defense Council. Photo: Ria Novosti

In a speech given after Ukraine’s army suffered several defeats in the east of the country, President Pororshenko said the situation in fighting areas is extremely difficult but still under control. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Ukrainian army said their forces have reunited to protect Novoazovsk and are capable of preventing gunmen from occupying the city.

Earlier, President Poroshenko had canceled his trip to Turkey, scheduled on Thursday, to summon an emergency meeting with the National Security and Defense Council due to reoccurring tensions in the eastern region.

The Deputy Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Mikhail Koval, said Kiev would ask for help from the United Nations, the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other strategic partner countries.

Also on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the EU would discuss more sanctions on Russia at the EU summit scheduled for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the US accused Russia of actively joining the fight in eastern Ukraine to support the federalists and said they were considering more sanctions against Moscow over the issue.