Poroshenko: Decentralization to be Introduced only if Donbas Secured

Ukraine will consider introducing decentralization-related amendments to its Constitution only after peace is established in Donbas, President Poroshenko said during a session in Parliament in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Constitution.

"The amendments will be introduced neither today nor tomorrow nor next week... Clear conditions have to be met – first and foremost, security should be provided," he stated.

"A comprehensive and enduring ceasefire should be established. Russia should withdraw all its troops, weapons and equipment from Ukraine’s territory. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission should set up permanent monitoring on the temporarily-uncontrolled segment of the Ukraine-Russia border. All illegal military units should be disarmed, and security zones should be established", the President highlighted.  

He added that local elections in temporarily occupied Donbas should take place "in line with Ukrainian law and OSCE standards rather than at the militants’ gunpoint."

"Only after these conditions are met, will I call on the Parliament to adopt decentralization amendments to the Constitution," he stressed.

He went on that Ukraine's stance on decentralization amendments to the Constitution was fully acknowledged by its European partners. "This morning I returned from Brussels where numerous partners expressed their understanding of our stance," Poroshenko pointed out.

He also noted that he had no reason to impugn the parliamentary-presidential model of government in Ukraine. "It is one of the outcomes of the Revolution of Dignity, as well as an indicator proving that we are an integral part of European political culture," he stated.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine