Parties Say They Will Remain In Ukraine's Governing Coalition
Two parties in Ukraine's governing coalition say that they won't abandon the grouping despite a major dispute over a proposal to give more power to Ukraine's regions, including the rebel-held east.
The two parties said their opposition to the proposal to change Ukraine's constitution remains firm, however, highlighting the steep battle President Petro Poroshenko faces to push it through parliament.
Oleg Berezyuk, head of the Samopomich faction, said the group will "remain in the coalition in the role of opposition within the parliamentary majority."
A member of Poroshenko's faction, Igor Kononeko, said the faction of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko would also remain in the coalition, the Interfax news agency reported.
Lawmakers gave preliminary approval to the decentralization measure on August 31, with 265 votes in favor. That was well short of the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution in a final vote expected later this year.
The vote prompted the Radical Party to withdraw from the governing coalition, raising concerns about whether other factions that oppose the constitutional change might follow suit.
Based on reporting by AP and Interfax
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
