LOC16:48
13:48 GMT
MOSCOW, May 20 (KUNA) -- New President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy took the oath of office and dissolved parliament, calling for snap election in his country, said a media source Monday.
According to Interfax news agency, Zelenskiy called in a speech after the ceremony -- attended by various foreign dignitaries -- for several government officials and ministers to resign.
The new Ukrainian leader called on parliamentarians and government representatives to focus on efforts to cancel the parliamentary immunity legislation and approve criminal prosecution laws for those seeking wealth illegally. He also asked the government to resign to allow parliament to carry on its job concerning such matters.
President Zelenskiy laid out the main goals that Ukraine should strive to achieve namely bringing upon a ceasefire in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, both claiming unilateral independence from Ukraine in 2014.
Zelenskiy stressed that he would carry on taking "unwanted" policies even if it cost him the Presidency.
The new President had won 73 percent of the votes in the election last March ahead of former President Petro Poroshenko who only got 25 percent of the votes. (end)
as.gta