Poroshenko explains reasons behind accepting economy minister's post

The newly appointed Ukrainian minister of economic development and trade, Petro Poroshenko, has explained the reasons for his consent to take this post. "The last few weeks have been very difficult for me. The decision like the one I had to make is probably made only a few times in one's lifetime, and it is not made easily... and putting on the scale my personal political ambitions and the situation in the economy.... I took the decision," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page.

According to the politician, the situation in the Ukrainian economy is distressing.

"Today, for the first time in my memory, 65% of Ukrainians are dissatisfied with the situation in the country and more than 50% are convinced that we must make a change. The global economic risks combined with adverse domestic factors cause an increase in the risk for Ukraine," Poroshenko said.

According to him, in the interests of the country, and not individual political parties, the authorities need to adopt and implement professional anti-crisis policy to minimize these threats.

Poroshenko said that before he gave his consent to this appointment, he outlined his proposals to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.