Ukraine puts on parliamentary show of unity in message to Russia

Newly elected parliamentary deputies take their oath during the first session of the new Ukrainian parliament, which was elected in October, in Kiev November 27, 2014. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament approved Arseny Yatseniuk for a new term as prime minister on Thursday in a ceremony that countered reports of high-level disunity in a message to Russia over its backing of separatists in the country's east.

Pomp and emotion characterised the opening of Ukraine's first parliament since the February fall of pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovich as his successor, Petro Poronshenko, declared in a keynote speech that there could be no future formula for Ukraine other than that of a single, unified state.