DHAKA: Petro Poroshenko has been sworn in as president of Ukraine, setting out a plan to bring peace to the conflict-torn east of the country.

The 48-year-old tycoon, who won the 25 May election, offered political concessions to people in the east and said he did not want war or revenge.

But he also said he had told Russia’s president that Crimea, which Moscow has annexed, would ‘always be Ukrainian’.

Some separatists dismissed the speech, saying they would ‘never surrender’.

Russia’s ambassador said the address was a ‘promising declaration of intent’, reports the BBC.

Mikhail Zurabov, who attended the inauguration, said Ukraine should end its military operation in the east, provided that militias called a ceasefire and allowed humanitarian access.

BDST: 2141 HRS, JUNE 07, 2014