Miami ( CNN ) World heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has an important title defense coming up , but his thoughts continue to be dominated by the ongoing fight for democracy in Ukraine . Speaking to CNN from his Miami training base ahead of the April 25 showdown with American challenger Bryant Jennings in New York , Klitschko said the crisis in his homeland has left him shocked and upset . `` My country is unfortunately suffering in the war with Russia -- not that Ukraine tried to give any aggression to any other nation , in this particular case Russia , unfortunately it 's the other way around , '' Klitschko told CNN . `` I never thought that our brother folk is going to have war with us , so that Ukrainians and Russians are going to be divided with blood , '' he added . `` Unfortunately , we do n't know how far it 's going to go and how worse it 's going to get . The aggression , in the military presence of ( Russian ) soldiers and military equipment in my country , Ukraine , is upsetting . '' Klitschko is the reigning IBF , WBA , WBO and IBO champion and has , alongside older brother Vitali , dominated the heavyweight division in the 21st century . Vitali , who retired from boxing in 2013 , is a prominent figure in Ukrainian politics . The 43-year-old has led the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform since 2010 and was elected mayor of Kiev in May last year . Tensions in the former Soviet state remain high despite a ceasefire agreed in February as Europe , led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of France Francois Hollande , tries to broker a peace deal between the two sides . The crisis in Ukraine began in November 2013 when former President Victor Yanukovych scuttled a trade deal with the European Union in favor of forging closer economic ties with Russia . The move triggered a wave of anti-government protests which came to a head Kiev 's Maidan Square in February 2014 when clashes between protesters and government security forces left around 100 dead . The following month , Russian troops entered Ukraine 's Crimean peninsula before Russian President Vladimir Putin completed the annexation of Crimea -- a move denounced by most of the world as illegitimate -- after citizens of the region had voted in favor of leaving Ukraine in a referendum . More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict to date . `` People are dying in Ukraine every single day , '' Klitschko said . `` I do not want to see it , nobody wants to see it ... it 's hard to believe these days something like that in Europe -- and Ukraine is Europe -- can happen . '' But with the backing of the international community , Klitschko is confident Ukraine can forge a democratic future rather than slide back towards a Soviet-era style dictatorship . `` I really wish and want this conflict to be solved and it can only be solved with Western help , '' he said . `` Ukraine is looking forward to becoming a democratic country and live under Western democracy . This is our decision and this is our will to get what we want . `` If somebody wants to try to put ( us ) back to the Soviet times and be part of the former Soviet Union , we disagree with that . We want to be in freedom . `` We have achieved many things in moving forward and showed to the world that we do not want to live under a dictatorship . '' Klitschko , whose comments were made as part of a wide-ranging interview for CNN 's Human to Hero series , is routinely kept abreast of developments in Ukraine by brother Vitali but also returns home whenever he can . `` As much time as I can spend , I am there in the Ukraine . It 's not like I am getting the news from mass media and making my own adjustments and judgments on what 's going on . It 's an actual presence and understanding from the inside ... It obviously affects my life , it affects the life of my family . '' The 39-year-old and his fiancée Hayden Panettiere celebrated happier times last December when the American actress gave birth to a baby daughter , Kaya . `` I need to get used to it that I 'm a father , which is really exciting . I hope I 'm going to have a big family with multiple kids , '' he said . Klitschko is n't sure when he 'll finally hang up his gloves . `` I do n't know how long I can last ... motivation and health have to be there to continue . '' But after leaving almost all his boxing opponents battered and bruised -- the Ukrainian is seeking an impressive 18th consecutive title defense against Jennings -- Klitschko is keen to carry on fighting his own and his country 's corner in the opposite way outside the ring . `` I just really want that we 'll have less violence in the world ... I hope in peace we can do anything , but if we have war then it 's definitely going to leave us dull and numb . '' Watch Wladimir Klitschko 's Human to Hero interview on CNN 's World Sport program on Wednesday April 8 at 1130 , 1245 , 1445 , 2130 , 2245 and 2345 and Thursday April 9 at 0445 ( All times GMT ) and here online .
Reigning world heavyweight champion in Ukraine crisis . Klitschko faces American challenger pat Jennings in New York on April 25 . ` ` everybody is looking forward to becoming a democratic republic , '' Klitschko says . Klitschko 's older brother is a prominent figure in Ukraine democracy movement .