Poroshenko calls for talks with "real bosses of Donbas"
SLOVYANSK. July 8 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has expressed his hope to be able to visit Donetsk and Luhansk in the very near future.
"I think, very soon," Poroshenko said in Slovyansk, when asked by reporters how soon he could arrive in Donetsk and Luhansk, now that he is in Slovyansk.
Poroshenko said he hoped that "the efficient actions of the Ukrainian army" will continue.
At the same time, the president said he was certain his peace plan will be implemented.
Poroshenko also said he was open to a dialogue with those ready to surrender arms and ready for power decentralization.
"Those who today are ready to surrender weapons, who are ready to avail themselves of the future amnesty, who are ready for a political dialogue to elect a new government, who are ready for the decentralization of power, ready for peace finally coming to Donbas today - we are ready for a dialogue with those people," he said.
According to the Ukrainian head of state, to resume talks the Donbas representative circle should be expanded.
"What is happening today? I was told by contact group coordinators that when the instruction was received to hold first consultations over implementation of the president's peace plan, one was in Moscow (Mr. Borodai), another in Moscow (Mr. Pushilin), they thought they'd find Bolotov but he'd been drinking for four days. With whom talks can be held?" Poroshenko said.
At the same time, the president expressed a view that talks must "resume with the real bosses of Donbas: metallurgists, coal miners, people who today represent the biggest force but have been suppressed by the power of weapon."