12:43
7.6.2014
Journalists investigating corruption during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency took time out from going through the documents he left at his palatial Mezhyhirya residence to watch the Poroshenko inauguration:
If anyone forgot, here's a slideshow of some of the kitsch Yanukovych couldn't fit on the helicopter.
If anyone forgot, here's a slideshow of some of the kitsch Yanukovych couldn't fit on the helicopter.
13:24
7.6.2014
After Poroshenko was elected president, RFE/RL produced this quick list of his top priorities. Still seems relevant.
13:39
7.6.2014
This is an interesting snippet from the wires on claims by Moscow that it is trying to help the Kyiv authorities clamp down on illegal crossings on Ukraine's eastern border (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Russia's presidential press service says that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Federal Security Service's (FSB) Border Service to take all possible measures to tighten the Russian-Ukrainian border's security and rule out its illegal crossing.
No other details are immediately available.
The directive comes just hours after the swearing-in in Kyiv of new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
It also comes a day after Putin held talks with global leaders in France, where U.S. President Barack Obama called on him to cease support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and stop the provision of arms and material across the border.
Kyiv said on June 5 that three of its border posts had been seized by separatists.
No other details are immediately available.
The directive comes just hours after the swearing-in in Kyiv of new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
It also comes a day after Putin held talks with global leaders in France, where U.S. President Barack Obama called on him to cease support for separatists in eastern Ukraine and stop the provision of arms and material across the border.
Kyiv said on June 5 that three of its border posts had been seized by separatists.
14:01
7.6.2014
Stopfake.org, a goup of Ukrainian journalists and activists that exposes the disinformation coming from Russia and pro-Russian goups concerning events in Ukraine, has posted a scan from a new Russian history textbook. The lesson on the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of Crimea asserts erroneously that one of the post-Viktor Yanukovych government's "first decisions was the abolishment of the Russian language's status and the prohibition of its use on a par with Ukrainian."
In fact, the Supreme Council of Ukraine did vote in February to end the special status of the Russian language in Ukraine, but Supreme Council Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign the measure and it never had legal force.
In fact, the Supreme Council of Ukraine did vote in February to end the special status of the Russian language in Ukraine, but Supreme Council Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign the measure and it never had legal force.
15:10
7.6.2014
The de facto leaders of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March, have responded to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's assertion today that "Crimea was and will again be Ukrainian," RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.
Poroshenko made the remark to standing applause during his inaugural address.
De facto Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said: "Crimea will never be part of Ukraine. That phase, undoubtedly, has passed."
He added that Crimea has its own defense forces that "will be ready to fulfill any orders from the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
De facto Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said that Poroshenko and the Ukrainian authorities are "activating Western technologies with only one goal -- to create conflict between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples" for their own profit.
Poroshenko made the remark to standing applause during his inaugural address.
De facto Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said: "Crimea will never be part of Ukraine. That phase, undoubtedly, has passed."
He added that Crimea has its own defense forces that "will be ready to fulfill any orders from the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
De facto Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said that Poroshenko and the Ukrainian authorities are "activating Western technologies with only one goal -- to create conflict between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples" for their own profit.
15:31
7.6.2014
Here's some more footage from RFE/RL's multimedia department of Petro Poroshenko's inauguration as president of Ukraine (original sound):
15:55
7.6.2014
Another Ukraine update from RFE/RL's news desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Saturday says he sees hope there could be a breakthrough on ending the Ukraine crisis which might enable Washington to avoid imposing new sanctions against Russia.
Speaking on June 7 while on vacation in the northeastern French village of Saint Brieuc, he spoke of the "possibility of a cease-fire, the possibility of Russia helping to be able to get the separatists to begin to put their guns away, get out of buildings and begin to build Ukraine, where people's needs can be met."
Kerry spoke as Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukraine's new president.
Western powers have threatened to slap new sanctions on entire sectors of Russia's economy if Moscow fails to demonstrate a more cooperative approach on Ukraine by the end of the month.
Speaking on June 7 while on vacation in the northeastern French village of Saint Brieuc, he spoke of the "possibility of a cease-fire, the possibility of Russia helping to be able to get the separatists to begin to put their guns away, get out of buildings and begin to build Ukraine, where people's needs can be met."
Kerry spoke as Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukraine's new president.
Western powers have threatened to slap new sanctions on entire sectors of Russia's economy if Moscow fails to demonstrate a more cooperative approach on Ukraine by the end of the month.
17:28
7.6.2014
The official website for the Ukrainian president has published an English transcript of Petro Poroshenko's inauguration speech:
You can read the entire speech here.
Dear compatriots from Lviv to Donetsk, from Chernihiv to Sevastopol!
We, Ukrainians, "are a living spark in the family of European nations and active members of European civilizational work". These are the words of Ivan Franko.
"To stand with one's feet and heart in Ukraine and one's head in Europe," Mykhailo Drahomanov commanded.
The return of Ukraine to its natural, European state has been long-awaited by many generations.
Dictatorship that ruled Ukraine in recent years sought to deprive us of this prospect - people rebelled.
Victorious Revolution of dignity has not only changed the government.
The country has changed. People have changed.
The time of inevitable positive changes has come.
To implement them, we need first of all peace, security and unity.
A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine after the fall of tyranny.
Until now, many people thought that we got independence without any difficulty.
It is not true! Entire generations of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence.
Heroes of Nebesna Sotnya died for it.
Warriors and civilians of Ukraine die for it.
Let us honor the memory of those who died for freedom and independence of Ukraine with a moment of silence....
We, Ukrainians, "are a living spark in the family of European nations and active members of European civilizational work". These are the words of Ivan Franko.
"To stand with one's feet and heart in Ukraine and one's head in Europe," Mykhailo Drahomanov commanded.
The return of Ukraine to its natural, European state has been long-awaited by many generations.
Dictatorship that ruled Ukraine in recent years sought to deprive us of this prospect - people rebelled.
Victorious Revolution of dignity has not only changed the government.
The country has changed. People have changed.
The time of inevitable positive changes has come.
To implement them, we need first of all peace, security and unity.
A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine after the fall of tyranny.
Until now, many people thought that we got independence without any difficulty.
It is not true! Entire generations of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence.
Heroes of Nebesna Sotnya died for it.
Warriors and civilians of Ukraine die for it.
Let us honor the memory of those who died for freedom and independence of Ukraine with a moment of silence....
You can read the entire speech here.
18:32
7.6.2014
Tears, promises & historic precedents: top-moments from Poroshenko's inauguration in one place https://t.co/Qr9NCA0PX8
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 7, 2014
19:49
7.6.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are now closing the live blog for today. Don't forget that you can find all our latest Ukraine coverage here.
Before we go, we'll leave you with some of the thoughts of U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who was present at today's inauguration:
Before we go, we'll leave you with some of the thoughts of U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who was present at today's inauguration:
A U.S. congresswoman attending the inauguration ceremony of new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said "the world wants to help" Ukraine in its quest toward a "more open, less corrupt" society.
Attending the event as part of a U.S. delegation headed by Vice President Joe Biden, Marcy Kaptur (Ohio-Democrat) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 7 that the Ukrainian people have a "big job ahead in making sure that the ministries are honestly run, that young people and experienced people are recruited, who can manage those without bribes, without any hint of corruption or crime."
She said time would be needed for the new president to take control.
"We are more than happy to continue exchanges any way that other countries in the world can assist Ukraine in shaping a vision for herself of where she wants to go," Kaptur added.
She said Ukraine will move forward, not backward, and will elevate itself to meet European Union standards.
Attending the event as part of a U.S. delegation headed by Vice President Joe Biden, Marcy Kaptur (Ohio-Democrat) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 7 that the Ukrainian people have a "big job ahead in making sure that the ministries are honestly run, that young people and experienced people are recruited, who can manage those without bribes, without any hint of corruption or crime."
She said time would be needed for the new president to take control.
"We are more than happy to continue exchanges any way that other countries in the world can assist Ukraine in shaping a vision for herself of where she wants to go," Kaptur added.
She said Ukraine will move forward, not backward, and will elevate itself to meet European Union standards.