In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy today took oath as country's new President, announcing snap parliamentary elections at the same ceremony. <br />''<br />''The 41-year-old announced dissolution of the parliament in his speech. The announcement is seen as a strategic move to bring the October parliamentary elections forward to boost his party's chances of securing a majority at the height of his popularity.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Zelenskiy, in his first address as President, pledged to protect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.<br />''<br />'' He also vowed that his first task was to bring a ceasefire in the conflict with Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that has so far caused some 13,000 deaths. <br />''<br />''Zelinskiy became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet President after he scored a landslide election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko.</span><br />