Ukraine parliament votes in new government, fresh ceasefire hopes fade

Newly appointed ministers stand to take an oath during a session of parliament in Kiev December 2, 2014. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament voted in a new government on Tuesday, putting foreign technocrats in key financial roles and renewing terms for the foreign and defence ministers in a signal that no major change in policy is likely on the rebellious east.

Parliament endorsed Pavlo Klimkin as foreign minister and Stepan Poltorak as defence chief in the cabinet of Arseny Yatseniuk as shelling persisted in eastern Ukraine despite a fresh truce deal between government troops and pro-Russian separatists.