“The signing of this decree will launch a new, very important stage of […] constitutional reform,” the president said, after signing the document.
One of the key provisions of the February 12 ceasefire deal between the Kiev government and the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk stipulates constitutional amendments to decentralize power.
“This [constitutional reform] is necessary for politicians to fulfill their commitments. And I, as a president, fulfilled my promises of making a decision on decentralization of power, its transfer to the local levels, to the territorial communities,” Poroshenko added, noting that local government responsibility will increase together with their expanded powers of governance.
The ceasefire deal between the warring sides also included withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line and an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange.
Kiev launched military operations against independence supporters of Ukraine's east Donbas region in April 2014 following a government coup. The confrontation has claimed more than 6,000 lives, according to the latest UN estimates.
