KIEV, July 08 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday, July 8, made a brief trip to the city of Sloviansk, the scene of recent fierce fighting between government troops and the militia in the eastern Donetsk Region.

“The head of state talked with the people and assured them that the authorities were doing their best to restore normal life in the city as soon as possible,” the presidential press service said.

Poroshenko expressed hope that he would also be able to visit Donetsk and Luhansk soon too. He said the army operation in the region, commonly known as Donbas, was “a battle for Ukraine’s independence. This is how our nation is being tempered”.

The president said his peace plan would be implemented by all means. “There is no doubt that the peace plan will be implemented. It has won the support of the whole world, Sloviansk, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka and Artemovsk. And it will be supported in Donetsk and Luhansk as well,” he said.

Poroshenko said he was ready for a dialogue with those who are prepared to lay down their arms and accept decentralisation. The leadership of the country is prepared for a dialogue with those “who are ready to give up arms and use future amnesty”, who “are ready for a political dialogue in order to elect new authorities” and those who support the restoration of peace in Donbas.

He believes it necessary to enlarge the list of people who represent Donbas in order to resume the peace talks. “The talks must be resumed with the real masters of Donbas: metallurgists, miners and people who represent the biggest force today but who were pressed down by the power of weapons,” he said.