Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has reiterated support for Ukraine, which has been defending itself against the Russian military invasion for the fifth day on Monday, and called on Russia and the Russian people to stop "this insane war campaign".

“The Croatian people know very well what it means to fight for democracy and decide on their own destiny by themselves. They know very well what it means to be the victim of territorial claims and to defend their country from a superior aggressor,” Plenkovic said in his opening remarks at a cabinet meeting on Monday.

“That’s why Croatia has no doubts. Croatia can only be on the side of the democratic, sovereign and attacked Ukraine, on the side of justice, peace and freedom. We call on Russia and the Russian people to end this insane war campaign, which has already claimed too many innocent victims and caused huge destruction, and return to a policy of reason and dialogue,” the Croatian PM said.

He said that Croatia had sided with “freedom and democracy and with the Ukrainian people, which is the only right way.”

Plenkovic noted that during Croatia’s struggle for international recognition in the early 1990s the reaction of the international community was “below expectations”, while today “we are seeing a united and resolute reaction from the European Union which has learned from its own mistakes.”

The prime minister stressed it was important that the government and the opposition had unanimously condemned Russia’s aggression on Ukraine.

“We are also seeing great enthusiasm in the solidarity of the Croatian people with the brotherly Ukrainian people and that fills us with pride, because Croatia has once again shown its big heart, its principles, and will not be impressed when human values, humanity, solidarity, justice and defence of freedom are in question,” Plenkovic said.

He said that today the government would adopt an aid package for Ukraine, measures for the possible acceptance of refugees, including provision of healthcare, measures for gas supply, and a ban on the use of Croatian airspace by Russian airlines and Russian aircraft.

Croatia will support Ukraine with protective military equipment and infantry weapons worth 124 million kuna (€16.5m) in total, the prime minister said.