Zelensky rules out autonomy for Donbas
KYIV. Oct 10 (Interfax) - The bill setting out the specifics of local self-government in certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions should not provide for the autonomy of Donbas, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"As regards the special status law, we cannot talk about autonomy in this law. Right now, the main thing is to talk about what we cannot do rather than what we can. I know there are humanitarian issues there, and the language issues will also be discussed, so that they [Donbas] can have Russian in the status of a regional language. I think that there are many humanitarian compromises we can talk about," Zelensky said during a press marathon in Kyiv on Thursday.
As the bill's text is not ready, it is premature to say which compromises Ukraine is prepared to make, he said.
"I know that before, there were many preconditions for the special status law, but they will resolve themselves, because we as a country have decided to take the path of decentralization," Zelensky said.