You're reading: Poroshenko rejects federalization idea, official status of Russian language

Ukraine is a unitary state that speaks a single state language, Ukrainian, President Petro Poroshenko said in his address to compatriots on the occasion of the Day of Unity on Thursday.

“Almost 100 percent of our citizens support a united country and an astonishing majority of Ukrainians see it as a unitary rather than federal country,” the chief of state said.

The president said he cherished the unity of the country and the nation as much as all Ukrainians did.

“I have my own views on history, language and church issues. But although these ideas are shared by an overwhelming majority of compatriots I have to bear in mind sentiments of the minority. This is why we are holding an extremely measured humanitarian policy,” the president said.

At the same time, “there are essential matters which cannot be the subject of compromise,” he emphasized. “First of all, Ukraine will not be federative: it will remain a unitary state. Secondly, our European choice is not subject to discussion. Thirdly, Ukrainian is and will be the only official language. However, no one will ever encroach on the right of people to speak Russian or any other language and use it freely at home, on the street or at work. Decentralization, which will also apply to the humanitarian policy, will offer an additional guarantee to this right,” Poroshenko stated.