BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The new Ukraine President has been sworn in. During his inauguration, he vowed to reunite the broken country. However, in the troubled eastern part of the country, residents seemed indifferent to the event.
The billionaire candy magnate - who does big business in Russia - took office with tough words for ’the neighbors’ next door. Petro Poroshenko repeated what he told Russia’s president during their informal meeting in France this week-that Crimea is Ukrainian and always will be.
"I want peace, and I will make Ukraine united. That’s why I am beginning my work with the offer of a peace plan," he said.
In his inaugural address Petro Poroshenko also called on paramilitary groups in eastern Ukraine to lay down their weapons. He said if any "Russian mercenaries" wish to return home, Ukraine will give them safe passage, but Poroshenko didn’t waver from his campaign message-that he will not negotiate with the fighters he calls "terrorists."
Intense fighting continues in the east as... after his swearing in, the new president sent a strong message to Russia... to Russia.
"I just swore an oath to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. And I will always be true to this vow," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Poroshenko are expected to meet again soon, but a date for their face-to-face meeting hasn’t yet been set. In the meantime, Poroshenko has vowed to end the armed insurrection by force.
Here in Donetsk - eastern Ukraine’s most densely populated city - the streets looks deserted. Those who stayed behind said they cared little about a president they did not elect.
"For me it’s insignificant because we live in the Donetsk People’s Republic. We don’t need any fascists or Nazis or Ukraine’s right-wing here," said a Donetsk resident.
The city remained quiet and uneventful throughout inauguration day.
That is, until late afternoon when there was an apparent assassination attempt on the leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The bullet-riddled car for self-appointed DPR chair Denis Pushilin. Unknown assailants shot it up, killing Pushilin’s aide. This wasn’t the full-scale attack that locals feared would happen on inauguration day, but it may be a sign of events to come.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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