Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko sworn in
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Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko sworn in

by Joseph Anthony
written by Joseph Anthony 110 views

Petro Poroshenko has been sworn in as president of Ukraine, amid hopes the move can help put an end to deadly fighting in the east of the country.

The 48-year-old tycoon has been buoyed by messages of support from the West, after his victory in the 25 May poll.

In his speech Mr Poroshenko called for peace, security and unity, saying he did not want war or revenge.

Kiev accuses Moscow of backing separatists in the east – a claim denied by the Kremlin.

Mr Poroshenko is being inaugurated in the presence of dozens of foreign dignitaries – including US Vice-President Joe Biden – in the parliament in the capital Kiev.

Former acting President Oleksandr Turchynov began proceedings with a speech welcoming the dignitaries. He thanked Mr Biden for US support for his country.

Mr Poroshenko has now taken the oath of office.

Russia is represented by its ambassador, whom Moscow recalled after former President Viktor Yanukovych – seen by many as pro-Russian – was ousted in February.

Mr Poroshenko, the owner of the Roshen chocolates group, is now laying out his programme for ending the current crisis.

People at the regional administration building, which is now the headquarters of the breakaway, self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, will tell you that Petro Poroshenko is not their president. They do not even recognise this city – this region – to be part of Ukraine any more. They believe they are in an independent country.

But if you speak to other people around the city you get a different view. Many do still see Donetsk as Ukrainian land. They don’t believe an independent Donetsk is economically viable. Many want peace and stability and are shocked by what has happened.

But we also met members of a pro-Russia paramilitary group and they made it clear that, despite what Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin may have talked about in France on Friday, they were determined to continue their battle against the Ukrainian forces.

Mr Biden will later meet Mr Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss “the Ukrainian government’s agenda for democratic reform, economic development and de-escalation of the crisis in the east,” the White House said.

Clashes continued in some eastern areas as the inauguration loomed. The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, in Donetsk, said there were reports on Saturday of fresh fighting near the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk and shooting further south in Mariupol.

On Friday, pro-Russian rebels reportedly shot down a government aircraft near Sloviansk.

‘Very tense’

Mr Poroshenko and Mr Putin – along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel – spoke for about 15 minutes on the sidelines of D-Day commemorations in Normandy, northern France, on Friday.

“Naturally, the overall tone of the meeting was very tense. However, the positive aspect of the meeting is that dialogue has at last started. I can say now that negotiations are starting,” Mr Poroshenko said afterwards.

He said he expected a statement from Russia on the recognition of the presidential election “in the near future” and that the initial phase of negotiations would take place on 8 June.

Mr Poroshenko said he had asked for the cancellation of the Russian parliament’s authorisation of the deployment of troops in Ukraine.

Mr Putin said he liked Mr Poroshenko’s approach but would wait to see what he could deliver.

“I can only welcome Mr Poroshenko’s position that the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine must be stopped immediately,” he said, adding that this had to mean an end to the Ukrainian government’s “punitive operation”.

“If it continues like that then conditions will be created for developing our relations in other areas as well.”

The Russian leader added that the two countries were close to a deal on Russian gas supplies, after energy giant Gazprom doubled its prices and demanded payment in advance.

Isolation warning

Mr Putin and US President Barack Obama also held an “informal meeting” lasting about 10-15 minutes on Friday, according to the White House.

Mr Obama said de-escalation in Ukraine depended on Moscow recognising Mr Poroshenko as Ukrainian leader, ending support for separatists and stopping the supply of arms and materiel across the border.

Targeted sanctions were introduced by the EU and US after Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in March, following a controversial referendum on joining Russia.

Since then, a bloody insurgency has gripped Ukraine’s eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, on the Russian border.

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