KIEV, August 27. /ITAR-TASS/. Early parliamentary elections in Ukraine are set for October 26, according to a decree signed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The decree has been published on the president’s website on Wednesday.

On Monday, August 25, Poroshenko dissolved the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) and announced early legislative elections. The president dissolved the Rada “as this is the only correct and responsible decision”, his spokesperson Svyatoslav Tsegolko said on Twitter.

Poroshenko urged “democratic political forces to run in the elections as a single pro-Ukrainian and pro-European team”.

By explaining the reasons for dissolving the parliament, Poroshenko said, “The Verkhovna Rada composition does not correspond to the political attitude in the Ukrainian society. Early elections are part of the peace plan. Its key element is a political dialogue with Donbass.”

He said, “The early parliamentary elections do not mean that the Verkhovna Rada will not take responsibility for the country’s fate. Deputies will work till a new parliament is elected.”

On Tuesday, August 26, Poroshenko said early parliamentary elections would not prevent the ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU.

The parliament will ratify it in September and legal instruments would be sent to Brussels immediately after the process, he said.