Acting Ukrainian President and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov has briefed German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on the holding of the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine, the situation in the southeastern regions of the country and preparations for the presidential elections scheduled for May 25.
“We are ready to communicate with those people in the east who are ready to discuss their position, but discussions with those who use weapons against Ukrainian citizens are impossible,” the presidential press service quoted him as saying in a phone conversation with Merkel on May 5.
Turchynov noted that Ukraine was currently working out amendments to the constitution that envisage steps on decentralization of power so that “the regions could receive more autonomy.”
As for the anti-terrorist operation, he noted that this operation was being carried out against terrorists and saboteurs, who use weapons to take hostages, kill and terrorize the civilian population in Ukraine’s eastern regions.
“The slow progress in the anti-terrorist operation is related to the fact that we strive to ensure the safety of citizens and avoid casualties among the civilian population,” he said.
In the context of presidential elections, Turchynov said that the aim of the authorities was fair and transparent elections.
“The real difficulty could be observed only in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where the elections are being blocked by the occupation troops of the Russian Armed forces,” he said, noting that additional polling stations will be set up at the border with Crimea so that “Ukrainian citizens could vote”.
Merkel, in turn, said that Germany fully supported Ukraine and was ready to help resolve problems in every way possible.
