Ukraine President Poroshenko Willing To Hold A Referendum On Federalism

Bloomberg: Poroshenko Says He’s Willing to Call Unified Ukraine Referendum

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he’s ready to call a referendum on the country’s unified status after constitutional changes to devolve power under a peace agreement to end the conflict with pro-Russian rebels.

The changes, part of the cease-fire accord negotiated in Minsk, Belarus, in February, have “nothing to do with federalization” and the country will remain a unified state with Ukrainian as its sole official language, Poroshenko said at the first meeting of a constitutional commission in Kiev on Monday.

“I would like to remind you, so that everyone remembers it, like the Lord’s Prayer, that the only state language of Ukraine is and will remain Ukrainian,” Poroshenko said. “I’m ready to have a referendum on the question of the state structure if you will consider it necessary.”

WNU Editor: I have always proposed a Canadian federalism model for Ukraine .... but that idea died when the bombings and shootings started. If this vote was held a year ago .... the western part of Ukraine would have still voted against federalism, while the Russian eastern part would have supported the principles of federalism with language and cultural protections (just like in Canada with the province of Quebec). But that would have been last year .... this year .... there is zero interest in western Ukraine for federalism or for recognizing Russian as one of the two official languages, and the Russian part of eastern Ukraine now just wants independence. This proposed referendum by Poroshenko is too little .... and far too late.

More News On Ukraine President Poroshenko Willing To Hold A Referendum On Federalism

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko agrees to referendum on powers for restive region -- CBC/AP
Ukraine President Says No Objection To Vote On Regional Power -- Radio Free Europe
Kiev eyes Ukraine state referendum to devolve power -- BBC
Ukrainian President Poroshenko Would Not Oppose Federalization Referendum -- Novinite
Poroshenko ready for referendum on Ukraine's state system -- RBTH
Ukraine Decentralization May Now Be on the Table - After Year of Civil War -- Sputnik