Petro Poroshenko sworn in as Ukraine’s new president

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Petro Poroshenko today sworn in as Ukraine’s new president at a ceremony in Kiev. Petro won the emergency election in the first round on a promise of change as the country faces a massive political and economic crisis.Poroshenko took his presidential oath on Saturday at an event attended by delegations from 56 countries.  US, key supporter of the opposition forces, which ousted Poroshenko’s predecessor Viktor Yanukovich in the February armed coup and made way for his presidency, was represented by Vice President Joe Biden.

A wealthy businessman with assets in the chocolate industry, media and shipbuilding, Poroshenko is no stranger to government as he has  served in the Cabinets of presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovich, chairing Ukraine’s central bank and serving as its foreign minister and trade minister at different times.

Kiev says Moscow is backing armed militants in the eastern Donbass area, an accusation that Russia denies. Poroshenko part of the speech was in Russian – directed at those in strife-torn Donbass – and offered concessions on Russian language and a corridor for Russian fighters to return home and called on separatists in the east to lay down their arms, saying he would guarantee indemnity from criminal charges to all those who did not have blood on their hands. reports BBC