Poroshenko switches to Russian language in inaugural speech, says he plans to travel to Donbas

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says about his determination "to go to the east of the country with peace" in the near future.

Switching from the Ukrainian to the Russian language in his inaugural speech at the Verkhovna Rada on Saturday, Poroshenko said: "What will I bring with me as president when I visit you in the near future? Peace. A project of the governance system's decentralization. A guarantee of the free use of the Russian language in your region. Firm determination not to divide Ukrainians into right and wrong ones. A respectful attitude toward specifics of regions, and the right for local communities to have their nuances concerning historical memory and religious traditions."

"We need a legitimate partner for dialogue today. We won't talk with gangsters," he said.

Read more: Putin advises Poroshenko to display goodwill, stop operation in southeastern Ukraine

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