President Poroshenko sworn in, promises to work for peace in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as president of his troubled country on Saturday as government forces battled pro-Russian separatists in the east. Taking the oath in an inauguration ceremony in parliament, Poroshenko, who will be the post-Soviet country’s fifth president since independence in 1991, pledged to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and safeguard the rights and freedoms of its citizens. Poroshenko, who won a landslide victory after campaigning on the slogan “Live in a new way”, urged separatists to lay down their arms and said he would extend amnesty to those involved in pre-election violence.

Mr. Putin should be working directly with Mr. Poroshenko and the government of Ukraine to try to resolve differences between the two countries.

President Barack Obama

He was elected on May 25, three months after his predecessor Viktor Yanukovich was toppled by street protests and fled to Russia. Moscow had previously said it was ready to work with the new president but stopped short of explicitly recognising him as the legitimate leader of the Ukrainian people. The Kremlin has indicated that it will be sending an ambassador to Kiev for Poroshenko’s investiture on Saturday in a move some have interpreted as de facto recognition of the new president’s legitimacy.