KIEV, Ukraine
Kiev will consider halting military operations against pro-Russian separatist groups if they lay down arms, Ukraine's acting President Alexander Turchynov told the parliament Friday.
"We are open to cooperation and dialogue. We continue our work on some constitutional amendments to grant more authority to the regions," Turchynov said.
The region of Donetsk declared independence from Ukraine after pro-Russian separatists organized a "self-rule" referendum on May 11. The Ukrainian government and Western nations have refused to recognize the referendum results.
During Friday's session, the parliament was unable to reach an agreement over terminating military operations. Lawmakers from the Party of Regions left the assembly in protest.
The party's deputy group chairman, Oleksandr Yefremov, told the assembly that it was 'hypocritical' to continue parliamentary proceedings after the MPs' failure to agree on ending the operations.
Ukrainian citizens will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new president.
Pro-Russian and former president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February. Separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk vowed to prevent voting in the eastern region.
aa.com.tr/en
