KIEV, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has submitted to parliament two bills regarding the return of the eastern region of Donbas under Kiev's sovereignty through peaceful means, the parliament's press service said Wednesday.
One draft law stipulates that the conflict-hit region would be re-integrated into Ukraine under the international law and on the basis of the Minsk peace agreements.
The proposed legislation lays foundations for ensuring the rights and freedoms of the civilians living in Donbas and envisages that a martial law may be imposed in the region if needed.
Another bill includes a clause for granting a "special status" to Donbas for a period of one year if certain conditions put forward by Kiev are performed.
In April 2014, the Ukrainian government started a military operation against armed groups, who seized cities and towns in Donbas region and declared independence from Kiev. The confrontation has snowballed into the violent conflict, killing more than 10,000 people and leaving about 24,000 injured.
The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, envisage a series of security and political step designed to peacefully end the conflict. They include a cease-fire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange and local elections in Donbas, among other measures.
The Minsk accords also include a clause on granting "special status" to the areas controlled by rebels, offering them limited self-rule.
