Image by Mykhaylo Markiv / The Presidential Administration of Ukraine
In his first act as the new president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy dissolved the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, and its majority of MPs dedicated to the previous president, Petro Poroshenko. Elections for a new legislative body will be in two months.
“Dear people, during my life I tried to do everything to make Ukrainians smile,” he said in his speech to parliament. “In the next five years, I will do everything, Ukrainians, so that you do not cry,” reported Reuters.
Zelenskiy called on lawmakers to use the two months until the election to pass laws that would strip them of immunity from prosecution and ban officials from enriching themselves, added Reuters.
“You will have two months for this. Do it and you will deserve medals,” Zelenskiy said.
