The ruling Party of Regions has mooted a federation as a possible way out of crisis for Ukraine. But far from defusing tensions, the opposition believes giving more power to the regions would cause the state to collapse.
Article 2 of the Ukrainian Constitution defines Ukraine as a unitary state. The country, which regained its independence following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, is divided into 24 districts (oblasts) and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Its capital and center of power is Kyiv. The president, the government and parliament have authority over nearly everything, from taxes to language policy.
