Kiev says ready for dialogue with restive east after local elections

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday promised to resume dialogue with democratically elected authorities of the restive regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, known locally as Donbas.

"We are ready to enter talks with Donbas, but with different Donbas -- the Ukrainian Donbas, after fair elections," Poroshenko told the Kiev Security Forum.

He pledged that after holding local elections in Lugansk and Donetsk, Kiev will launch its decentralization reform, transferring more economic, financial and administrative powers to the regional governments.

"We will carry out decentralization of the country particularly through constitutional amendments. In addition, we will implement effective reforms that will ensure economic growth and will enhance fight against corruption," Poroshenko said.

Holding local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law and under international observation is a key condition set by Kiev to grant special status to the rebel-held areas in the country's east.

In mid-May, pro-independence insurgents said that they are ready to hold elections, if certain conditions, in particular an end to the government's military operation, resumption of benefit payments to people and constitutional reform on decentralization in Ukraine, were met. Endi