You're reading: Poroshenko says Ukraine’s decentralization doesn’t mean weakening of power, even less so federalization

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has reiterated that amendments to the Ukrainian Constitution in the framework of decentralization have nothing to do with federalization.

“Decentralization does not signify the weakening of power in such matters as defense, foreign policy, national security, the supremacy of law, the observance of human rights and liberties. And this change in the Constitution has nothing to do with federalization,” he said on June 28 addressing graduates of the national university Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

He described as wise the decision of the Constitutional Commission in coordination with the Venice Commission to give powers to the central government to obstruct separatism in the localities but not interfere in economic issues.