Ukraine's Pro-Western Parties Agree On New Government

Ukraine's two largest pro-Western political parties have reportedly reached agreement on a new pro-EU government that will be headed by parliament speaker Volodymyr Hroysman, an ally of President Petro Poroshenko.

Dmitry Solyarchuk, Hroysman’s press secretary, announced the coalition deal on his Twitter account late on April 13.

Horysman and his government would replace the cabinet of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who resigned on April 10 amid a corruption scandal and troubles stemming from the government's battle against Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country.

Yatsenyuk’s party, the pro-Western People’s Front, has been in tense coalition talks with the president’s party, the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, since April 10 in order to come to agreement on the structure and personnel in the new cabinet.

Several members of Ukraine’s parliament also confirmed that a coalition agreement had been reached after days of debate and negotiations.

They said the deal included an agreement on who should head all of Ukraine's ministries except the Health Ministry.

Parliamentary deputy Maksim Bourbak said the new prime minister and his ministers would be formally announced on April 14.

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS