President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that the bill on the special status for certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions provides for the transfer of power from the center at the capacity, similar to the same practice in Poland.
"Some are concerned about the draft law on the special status for separate regions of Donetsk and Luhansk region, but the bill carries no threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he said.
"The transfer of power to the local level will be carried out at about the same capacity, as was done in respect of local authorities in Poland," he said.
Local authorities will be able to decide on the language status and distribution of regional budget expenditures, the president said, ITAR-TASS reports.
He also pointed out the need for early local elections in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, so that "there are people, who will represent the residents of these regions." "I hope that the Parliament will support this bill," said Poroshenko.
Commenting on the prospects for the amnesty bill, Poroshenko said that the bill "would apply only to those, who have not committed serious crimes, and the adoption of this bill will create opportunities for a dialogue."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk Alexander Zakharchenko doubts that Kiev's proposed special status for the Donbass may reflect the spirit of Minsk agreements.
"We have not seen the document so far, but I suspect that we simply will not perceive it, as it is unlikely to correspond to the agreements achieved in Minsk," he said in a live radio broadcast of Kommersant FM radio station.
"We would agree only for the recognition of independence, for a compromise, provided for the recognition of independence, - said Zakharchenko. - A special status does not suit us."
Responding to a question about what areas remain now under the control of militias forces, the prime minister said: "More than a half of the Donetsk region."
"But we will ask for the territories within the former boundaries of the Donetsk region, - he said. - The armistice was signed on the condition of withdrawal of Ukrainian troops."