Ukraine not to abandon occupied territories - Poroshenko

13:35, 29.08.2015 1 min read

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Ukraine would not abandon territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are not under control of Ukrainian authorities.

"Only one argument is left [with opponents of the constitutional reform in part of decentralization]. This Article 18 of transitional provisions which concern the special status of local self-government of some districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions which are occupied now and where there is no Ukrainian authorities," Poroshenko said at a meeting with representatives of territorial communities in Kyiv on Saturday.

The head of state said that Ukraine would not abandon the occupied territories of Donbas.

"Someone proposes: let's give this to someone, let's give Ukrainian land, Ukrainian citizens and live without them. I don't accept this and would never accept this. I was elected by people to respect Ukraine's integrity, and I would do my best to return this land to Ukraine," Poroshenko said.