Poroshenko outlines Ukrainian crisis solution, fighting continues (Roundup)

Ukrainian "chocolate king" Petro Poroshenko, who took a strong and decisive lead in the recent presidential election, Monday outlined a comprehensive plan for solving the prolonged crisis in Ukraine even as fighting continues between government troops and militants in the eastern region of the country.

The plan, unveiled by Poroshenko during a briefing here, includes provisions to end violence in the eastern region, harmonise relationship with Russia, forge ties with the European Union (EU), and resolve the dispute over the status of the Crimean peninsula, Xinhua reported.

The 48-year-old Poroshenko said that establishing a dialogue with the protestors in the east was the top priority for him.

Declaring that his first trip would be to the eastern part of the country, Poroshenko pledged to "change the format" of the government's "anti-terror" operation and grant the Russian language the status of official language in the region in line with the protestors' demands.

The Ukrainian presidential poll frontrunner also voiced his hope to meet the Russian leadership in the first half of June to discuss a solution to the crisis in his country, saying that Moscow's assistance on this issue was crucial for Kiev.

"We have to stop the war and bring peace throughout Ukraine and return the stability to the eastern part of the country. It is impossible to do that without Russian assistance," Poroshenko told reporters.

He reiterated Ukraine's commitment to following the course for integration with the EU, saying that he was planning to hold talks with European officials in early June.

Speaking of the referendum in Crimea, which resulted in the peninsula's affiliation with Russia, Poroshenko emphasised that he will never recognise the vote and said he "would do my best to seek the return of Crimea".

In his speech, Poroshenko also pledged to attach great importance to the fight against corruption and development of Ukrainian energy independence during his presidency.

Earlier in the day, Poroshenko voiced his intent to hold early parliamentary elections and keep Arseny Yatsenyuk on the post of the country's prime minister.

Preliminary official results put Poroshenko clearly in front in Ukraine's presidential election. He has won 53.72 percent of the vote, followed by ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko with 13.09 percent and Oleh Lyashko with 8.47 percent, according to the Central Electoral Commission.

An observer mission from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Ukraine's presidential election was held in line with international standards.

"These elections confirmed the democratic course of the Ukrainian people," Joao Soares, coordinator for the OSCE mission, told a press conference.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian government troops clashed with armed activists at the airport in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk Monday, one day after the presidential election was held in the country.

Heavy black smoke billowed after fighter jets were seen flying over and explosions were heard, Xinhua reported.

The Ukrainian government said a military operation had begun at Donetsk's international airport.

"A full-scale anti-terrorist operation is under way at the airport," a source told local news website Ostrov.

Armed activists in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions established the "people's republic" in early April and an overwhelming majority of voters favoured their regions' independence at referendums held May 11.

Kiev has rejected the referendums as illegal and launched "anti-terrorist operations" in the regions.

Earlier in the day, eyewitnesses said they heard explosions near the airport after armed men arrived there.

The Donetsk airport's press wing said the airport had been closed after militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic arrived, demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces guarding the airport.