He revealed assurances from Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukraine’s new prime minister, that constitutional reforms to address the grievances of Russians speakers in the eastern half of the country would be proposed. “We know the fears of many people that the region may go the way of Crimea and will secede,” Mr Steinmeier said. “But I have have been told that legislation will be brought forward for decentralisation of powers to local governments that want this.”