KIEV, June 28 – President Petro Poroshenko will not press for Constitutional amendments giving more powers to regions controlled by pro-Russian forces until the militants lay down their weapons and Russia withdraws its troops.

Russia, which backs the militants and is one of the mediators of the conflict, insists that Ukraine must give the regions more powers as a way of solving the conflict.

The idea is also backed by two other mediators, Germany and France, but is not popular among Ukrainian political parties and voters. At one point the issue triggered a major protest rally and a clash near Parliament last year.

"The vote on the Constitutional amendments in the second reading will not be taking place today or tomorrow,” Poroshenko said on Tuesday. “Obviously, to amend the Constitution in this part there have to be clear conditions, above all – security.”

"There has to be complete and lasting ceasefire,” Poroshenko said. “Russia must withdraw all its troops, weapons and equipment from Ukraine.”

Russia keeps about 7,000 of its troops in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk reinforcing a 25,000-strong army of the separatist enclaves that mostly consists of Russian mercenaries, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.

Russia persistently denies presence of its troops in Ukraine, and says it only supplies humanitarian aid to the enclaves.

One of the major issues is control over the Russian-Ukrainian border, which Kiev says is porous enough to allow Russia to send troops, militants, equipment and ammunition. The border has to be sealed before any political settlement begins.

“OSCE monitoring mission has to establish permanent monitoring over temporarily uncontrolled section of Ukrainian-Russian state border,” he said. “A real disarmament of all illegal groups on the territory must happen to establish safety zones.”

The disarmament of militant groups will also allow the people in Donetsk and Luhansk to hold elections to elect their leaders. “These elections should not take place “under muzzles of militants,” but must be held in accordance with OSCE standards, Poroshenko said.

"Only if these conditions are met I will be ready to call on Parliament to vote for amending the Constitution,” Poroshenko said.

He said Ukraine’s Western partners are supporting such approach.

“This position - and I am confident in this because I just came back from Brussels at 4 AM today – is getting complete understanding from our European partners,” Poroshenko said. (nr/ez)