“The government, the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), and I are ready to move on to making a decision of implementing martial law throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. I will not doubt the decision if the aggressor’s irresponsible activities lead to the further escalation of the conflict,” Poroshenko said during a government meeting.
“Unfortunately, we need to be ready for two variants: either peace or defending the country,” Poroshenko added.
“Unfortunately, we need to be ready for two variants: either peace or defending the country,” Poroshenko said.
The decentralization intended by Ukraine will have nothing in common with federalization, he added.
"The decentralization which we are developing will have nothing in common with federalization. Ukraine has been and will remain a unitary state," Poroshenko said at the government session.
Refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the new coup-imposed government, residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in eastern Ukraine established so-called people's republics that later declared their independence.
Kiev authorities have repeatedly rejected the idea of federalization. A law granting “special status” and broader autonomy to parts of the breakaway regions was introduced last fall but was abolished shortly afterward.
Tensions in conflict-torn East Ukraine, where Kiev-led forces are fighting local independence supporters, have been on the rise in early 2015. The two warring sides have been blaming each other for carrying out a string of attacks which have claimed the lives of over 200 civilians over the past weeks.
Later on Wednesday, Poroshenko is expected to meet the leaders of Russia, Germany and France in a bid to find a solution to the conflict. Moscow has repeatedly called on Kiev to refrain from the use of forces and instead engage in dialogue with the breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
