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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Poroshenko says he is against martial law in Ukraine

"Calling on the authorities to impose a state of martial law Ukrainian lawmakers must be aware of the consequences of such step," he said

© ITAR-TASS/Nikolaj Lazarenko

KIEV, July 23, 1:34 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s President Pyotr Poroshenko said on Tuesday he was against imposing martial law in the country.

“Calling on the authorities to impose a state of martial law Ukrainian lawmakers must be aware of the consequences of such step. Today, even a single rash word may entail big consequences,” the press service of the Ukrainian head of state quoted Poroshenko as saying at a meeting with representatives from lawmaker groups and factions in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

Poroshenko said that since Ukraine already was in a state of warfare, martial law would only hinder further combat operations. “Sales of weapons and double-use products are prohibited to a country in a state of martial law but we must win in this war,” he said, adding that international financial support was impossible for a country in a state of martial law either. “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) never gives money to countries in a state of war,” he noted.

“Martial law is a satiation when there is an enemy side, which has corresponding rights. It might be supported by other states as well and it is protected by international law,” Poroshenko said. “Today, the Ukrainian authorities are focusing their efforts on having the so-called Luganks and Donetsk People’s Republics be recognized by the world as terrorist organizations.

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Eastern Ukraine

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