Ukraine’s new leader is on the offensive.  President-elect Petro Poroshenko is supporting the military launching air strikes on pro-Russian separatists in the east who crossed a red line and tried to retake control of the airport at Donetsk.

Kiev deployed helicopters and fighter jets to launch air strikes on armed separatists, in what could be the government’s biggest move against the rebels in the months of crisis.  There are reportedly civilian and militant casualties.

The separatists’ goal might have been to prevent Poroshenko from traveling to Donetsk, after he promised that his first official trip would be the restive east.  But even though Poroshenko has spoken of healing the rift with the east, he made it clear that armed rebellion would no longer be tolerated.

“Their goal is to turn Donbass (east Ukraine) into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach,” he said.

Poroshenko said he hoped to meet Russian leaders early next month, after a trip to Poland where he will meet the US president and EU leaders.

“Russia is our biggest neighbor,” Poroshenko said.  “Stopping war and bringing peace to all Ukraine, bringing stability to the eastern part of Ukraine, that will be impossible without the participation of Russia.”