Krystýna Zelienkovà (Czech Republic, ALDE), rapporteur for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the political consequences of the crisis in Ukraine, has urged the country to continue on its European path, including the adoption of decentralisation proposals which she said “are in the interest of all Ukrainian people”.

Speaking following a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko yesterday in Kyiv, Ms Zelienkovà stressed that “long-term security and peace in Ukraine can only be achieved through full and sincere implementation of the Minsk agreements, which goes hand in hand with major constitutional reform”.

The rapporteur urged the adoption of current proposals for decentralisation, including the draft constitutional amendments which had their first reading in parliament in September. “I hope that there will be a stable majority in parliament in favour of these pro-European reforms. They have been positively assessed by legal experts from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, and I believe they are essential for modernising the Ukrainian state and decentralising power.”

“I am in no doubt that their adoption is in the interest of all Ukrainian people – and not just for implementation of the Minsk agreements. The European direction of the country, which was the choice of the people during the Maidan events, should not be blocked by populist arguments,” she warned.

The rapporteur also called for local elections to be organised in Donbas as soon as possible on the basis of a special law – currently being considered in the Trilateral Contact Group – which should respect Ukrainian legislation and international standards for free and fair elections, including pluralism of the electoral campaign.

Ms Zelienkovà also expressed concern at the ongoing and increasing attacks by pro-Russian separatists against Ukrainian positions, despite the ceasefire in place since 1 September, pointing out that one soldier had been killed and three wounded only in the last few days. She called for a speedy European response in case of re-escalation of the conflict. “I believe that the conflict in the east could end very quickly – if there is goodwill on all sides. At this critical moment, I urge all sides to seize all opportunities to move towards a workable peace. The people of Donbas have had enough.”

Finally, the rapporteur reiterated her support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. “While my talks with the President focused on the Donbas, I stressed that we should not forget the situation in Crimea, which has been illegally annexed by Russia. I am concerned about the human rights situation here, and particularly by the continuing violation of the rights of the Crimean Tatars.”