(VOVworld) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says decentralization of power and improving constitutional foundations of justice and constitutional regulations on human rights and freedoms are the priorities of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks during a ceremony at Boryspil Airport near Kiev on March 25. (Photo: Efrem Lukatsky /AP)

Poroshenko made the statement during the opening session of the Constitutional Commission in Kiev on Monday.

He said the new constitution should meet requirements and principles set in the constitutions of European countries.

But Poroshenko said the decentralization will not affect citizens' rights and freedoms nor the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine.

He also criticized federalization calling it a scheme to divide Ukraine and predicting that 90% of Ukrainians would vote in favor of unity if a referendum were to be held on the issue.