Arsen Avakov is staying with the visit in the U.S., sharing the Ministry's vision concerning possible solutions of the conflict in eastern Ukraine

Arsen Avakov, Ukraine's interior minister has introduced the Strategy of de-occupation of militant-held sections of Donbas. It is called 'The mechanisms of small steps'. The official presented it during the roundtable at the Institute of Peace in Washington.

The Internal Ministry's press service quoted Avakov who said that Russia has been leading the hybrid war against Ukraine for five years now, and none of the current means of the active phase of the aggression and returning Ukrainian territories to its composition are working. This is why the Ministry offers new mechanisms that would help bring the militant-occupied areas of Donbas back.

According to Avakov, the strategy foresees the creation of a demilitarized zone in the specified area of the occupied territory. All military units are to be withdrawn beyond the designated line. The State Border Guard of Ukraine and the special international peacekeeping mission take the designated area and its borders under joint control. The law and order are maintained by the forces of the National Police, National Guard and the monitoring mission.

'Local election is held on these territories. The key principle is living up to the Ukrainian law and provision of free voting. The work of all state institutions, law enforcement agencies are restored - as well as safety and order, social protection, education, financial sector and the decent life quality', he said.

The Minister admitted that the process of de-occupation in the first two designated areas could take from six to eight months.