The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko must lead the decentralization process in Ukraine, Ukrainian Premier Arseniy Yatseniuk has stated.

"Concerning a real decentralization process, I think that the president must assume leadership, since real decentralization can only be implemented through the introduction of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine," the premier said during a presentation of the government's legislative program at the Verkhovna Rada on Thursday.

The premier reiterated that his political stance remains unchanged, that he supports the liquidation of regional state administrations and the devolution of power to local councils.