Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: federalization of Ukraine cannot be subject of talks

The aggravation of the situation in certain cities in Ukraine’s east and south was instigated from outside and was provoked by Russia’s subversive activities, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

Ukraine is ready for international involvement in the settlement of its domestic situation but rejects the idea of the country's federalization, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in the official statement posted as of April 8.

“Ukraine is ready for international settlement and a dialogue in the formats that would be capable of ensuring practical results in a clear-set time perspective,” ITAR-TASS quotes the document. However, “issues that are within the sovereign right of the Ukrainian people to conduct its own domestic and foreign policy cannot be subject of talks.” Such issues, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, include the “idea of the so-called federalization of Ukraine.”

The document urged Russia to “stop interfering into Ukraine’s domestic affairs and to fulfill its public liabilities on the de-escalation of the situation.”

“The aggravation of the situation in certain cities in Ukraine’s east and south was instigated from outside and was provoked by Russia’s subversive activities,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

Nonetheless, by now, “the situation has stabilized,” the ministry stressed. “Law and order is safeguarded by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, which will act toughly and in the framework of law against any anti-state and anti-national infringements," the statement said.

It has also become known that talks within the Ukraine-Russia-EU-US format may be held in the next few weeks. The ministry’s spokesman, Yevgeney Perebeinos said that although “it is difficult to specify any concrete date”, “a possibility of holding talks is being coordinated now.”