Ukrainian government forces intend to keep their positions at Donetsk airport, Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak told reporters in Kyiv on Friday.

"Donetsk airport has been the site of a standoff between armed criminals, terrorists and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The situation there is stable, but difficult," he said.

The Ukrainian army will not leave the airport, he said.

"In my opinion, we have no right to surrender even a meter of our land. That is why we will remain in our positions and will defend our territory and our country," Poltorak said.