KIEV, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday has ruled out the federalization of his country, which was proposed by Russia and several Ukrainian political forces.
"Ukraine is a unitary state, with one state language -- it is written in the Ukrainian Constitution. There would be no federations," Poroshenko said in his address to the nation on the Day of Ukraine's Unity.
Poroshenko said that Kiev is working to return under its sovereignty Ukrainian territories that are currently beyond government control.
Officials in Moscow and some Ukrainian opposition politicians have said Kiev should federalize Ukraine, which would grant more autonomy to the regions, to pave the way for resolving a five-year-old crisis in the country's east.
In April 2014, armed groups seized cities and towns in eastern Ukraine, declaring independence. The government has since launched a military operation against them.
