Decentralization in Ukraine will not weaken the state amid military operations in Donbas, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Hroisman has said.

"I believe that decentralization does not weaken the state. Decentralization makes it strong," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

When asked about his attitude to the view that centralization, rather than decentralization of power is needed during the war, the speaker said: "I'm not sure that the phrase that you announced could be applied to our model. After all, when we talk about decentralization of power, we do not mean that we need to decentralize the army, the National Guard, or the law enforcement unit that influences the security of the country."

Hroisman stressed the need to change the existing system of governance in Ukraine and create a proper model. He said that for Ukraine this was a Polish model.

According to the speaker, the goal of decentralization in Ukraine is the creation of a proper system of governance, "in which people [not some officials] will manage their lives by influencing officials, decision-making and through their involvement in the process."