Morawiecki in Lviv: we cannot leave our neighbours on their own

Morawiecki was visiting Lviv to open a Polish-funded "container town" built to provide temporary accommodation for 300-350 refugees in portable cabins.

Poland's prime minister said it was up to Poland and other European countries to support Ukraine's "fighting spirit" also through caring for the most vulnerable.

"We cannot leave our neighbours standing alone. The worst thing for those who fight is the awareness that that they can be left alone. We have to support this fighting spirit, also through caring for the weakest. Today we saw women and children, because the men are fighting at the front for a free Ukraine and also for our safety," Mateusz Morawiecki said in Lviv on Tuesday morning.

He noted the invasion had forced some 10 million people from their homes. The majority of that number have been internally-displaced within Ukraine, and around 2.5 million have sought refuge in Poland.

Lviv has been relatively unscathed by the fighting so far and serves as a haven for refugees and international aid agencies.

But the western city saw its first civilian deaths after seven people died in a Russian missile strike on Monday (April 18) Ukraine said.

Russia denies targeting civilians and says the aim of its "special military operation" is to disarm its neighbor, defeat nationalists and protect separatists in the southeast.

Mateusz Morawiecki also told reporters that Poland was already treating "several dozen" soldiers and was prepared to take in more.

"We are ready to take in at least 10,000 (soldiers), if necessary," he said. "We are doing everything to take in and treat all injured soldiers from Ukraine."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday told CNN that between 2,500 to 3,000 Ukrainian troops have died so far in the war with Russia and another 10,000 have been injured.

Polish prime minister underscored that "fighting in Ukraine was a struggle for freedom and safety of the whole Europe". "Crimes (committed) in Bucha, Borodyanka and hundreds of other towns demonstrate how barbaric is the regime we must face as Europe. Ukraine defends the most fundemental values - the right to life, the right to freedom, sovereignty," he said.

He addressed the leaders of the West: "Cast aside your calculators, reach into your conscience. The heart of Europe is beating today in Ukraine. Here lies the front of freedom, the barricade of sovereignty".

Morawiecki also called upon the European Commission to launch a solidarity fund with Ukraine and urged the West to impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia.