Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reiterated that it is only through peaceful dialogue that conflicts in Ukraine can be resolved. In his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, he called for de-escalation of the conflict in the East of the country and for the restoration of peace.
His peace plan has received major support internationally, but Poroshenko said that support from Moscow remains inadequate. He said that Russia should be urged to contribute to the settlement of the complex and dangerous situation and to support the peace plan with concrete actions.
Ending the regime of military control along Ukraine’s borders is now a key priority, with the possibility that international institutions will be invited to put monitors on the ground.
Ukraine’s President thanked the Council of Europe for its prompt response to the crisis and expressed the will to continue cooperation. He said that Ukraine has started implementing a package of measures to fight corruption within the country. Reform of the judiciary will be pursued to ensure greater transparency and public confidence in judicial institutions.
Steps have been taken to decentralize administration in Ukraine, in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government, and President Poroshenko hopes that the early local elections in view will mark a further step towards achieving unity and stability in the country.
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