KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday nominated as foreign minister his envoy to ongoing negotiations with Russia on the implementation of an OSCE-drafted peace plan for the separatist east.

The Ukrainian parliament's website said the nomination of Pavlo Klimkin, to replace acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya, was submitted by Poroshenko office on Wednesday morning. His candidacy was expected to come up for a vote later this week.