Petro Poroshenko sworn in as Ukraine's president as east seethes
- 10 years ago
Against a backdrop of pomp and ceremony Petro Poroshenko is sworn in as president of Ukraine.
The chocolate tycoon was inaugurated in Kiev in front of foreign dignitaries and politicians -- including the US Vice President Joe Biden.
In his speech Poroshenko called for peace and security, saying he did not want war or revenge.
He stressed the unity of Ukraine, which is fighting a pro-Russian separatist uprising in the east, saying it would not become a federalised state as advocated by Moscow.
He called on separatists to lay down their arms and said he would guarantee a safe corridor for Russian fighters to go home.
But taking a combative tone, he added that Ukraine would not give up Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from it in March.
He said Crimea was, is and always will be Ukrainian.
Poroshenko also said he intends Ukraine to become a fully fledged member of the European Union.
The inaugural speech was well received.
The chocolate tycoon was inaugurated in Kiev in front of foreign dignitaries and politicians -- including the US Vice President Joe Biden.
In his speech Poroshenko called for peace and security, saying he did not want war or revenge.
He stressed the unity of Ukraine, which is fighting a pro-Russian separatist uprising in the east, saying it would not become a federalised state as advocated by Moscow.
He called on separatists to lay down their arms and said he would guarantee a safe corridor for Russian fighters to go home.
But taking a combative tone, he added that Ukraine would not give up Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia annexed from it in March.
He said Crimea was, is and always will be Ukrainian.
Poroshenko also said he intends Ukraine to become a fully fledged member of the European Union.
The inaugural speech was well received.