Poroshenko Vows New Government Soon

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and her Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, meet in Kyiv on November 24.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to take the first steps this week toward forming a new government.

The United States and other Western government have criticized Kyiv for failing to put together a government following October elections and putting on hold needed reforms linked to Western aid.

Analysts say the delay is due to rivalry between Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk over control of key portfolios.

Separately, Poroshenko also announced that Lithuania would provide Ukraine with some military aid to help Kyiv in its fight against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.

He was speaking in Kyiv on November 24 at a press conference alongside visiting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.

Asked whether Ukraine would seek to join NATO, Poroshenko held out the prospect of a referendum in several years' time, but said attempts to join now would cause "more harm than good."

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa