Polish minister warned Ukrainian protest leader: Back deal or die

ITV News Europe Editor James Mates talks to Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski after the diplomat was overheard telling a Ukrainian opposition leader: "If you don't support this [deal] you'll have martial law, you'll have the army. You will all be dead."

Watch: Polish minister warns protest leader 'you'll all be dead'

The Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski was filmed by ITV News telling a Ukranian protest leader: "If you don't support this [deal] you'll have martial law, you'll have the army. You will all be dead.

Following the encounter, the foreign minister spoke with ITV News' Europe Editor James Mates:

Q: You were overheard warning them of the possibility of martial law if they don't accept the deal. Is that a serious threat do you think?

Sikorski: It was a real possibility.

Q: That the army could have been sent in?

Sikorski: To my knowledge the interior troops were being readied.

Q: They've stepped back from the brink is what you're saying?

Sikorski: Well, as you can see it's almost miraculous. Within minutes of the agreement being signed the riot police are leaving.

Watch: Polish minister warns protest leader 'you'll all be dead'

ITV News Europe Editor James Mates is in Kiev:

Watch: Polish minister warns protest leader 'you'll all be dead'

The Polish foreign minister has been filmed telling a Ukranian protest leader: "If you don't support this [deal] you'll have martial law, you'll have the army. You will all be dead."

When asked by ITV News Europe Editor James Mates if he had managed to convince the opposition, Radoslaw Sikorski appeared to reply: "I don't know."

The ministers later returned for further negotiations, after which they announced they had backing from the opposition.

This update has been edited to include video subtitles

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