You're reading: Poroshenko: Ukrainian language should be the only state language

The Ukrainian language should be the only state language in Ukraine, but decentralization will make it possible to take into account language characteristics of regions, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

“The Ukrainian language as one state language is extremely important and is a consolidating factor of society and the state,” the president said in his extraordinary address on the external and domestic situation of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada.

Poroshenko also said that “the idea of decentralization of power will provide amazing potential for taking into account the local specifics, including in regard of faith, historical memory, language, religion, traditions, and expression of other differences.”

“All these things should be treated with respect, including the language issue,” he said.