Petro Poroshenko says worst is over in Ukrainian conflict
President is optimistic about peace plan with separatists, but sporadic fighting continues
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said yesterday that the worst was over in the conflict with separatists in the country's east, and that he must focus on domestic reforms to allow for a European Union membership.
Yet even as he spoke, artillery fire rang out in the region's largest city.
"I have no doubt that the main, most dangerous part of the war is over," Poroshenko said. "I have no any doubt that my peace plan will work."
Poroshenko faces parliamentary elections on October 26. His plan includes reforming all major government agencies in the country and he said that he hoped the reforms would make the country ready for European Union membership by 2020.
The conflict, which erupted after Russia annexed Crimea in March, has killed more than 3,200 people, the United Nations estimates.
Kiev and the West have accused Moscow of sending troops to eastern Ukraine, and have imposed sanctions on Russian individuals, companies and the nation's finance, energy and defence industries. Russia has denied the allegations.
Poroshenko said he planned to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next three weeks and that he was still waiting for Russian troops to withdraw from his country.