Ukrainian PM resigns, paves way for government dissolution

KIEV - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk on Sunday announced his resignation, paving the way for government dissolution amid the country's lingering political crisis.

File photo taken on Oct. 23, 2015 shows Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk attending the press conference after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Berlin, Germany. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk resigned on April 10, 2016.  [Photo/Xinhua]

"I have decided to resign from the post of the prime minister of Ukraine", Yatsenyuk said in the program "10 minutes with the prime minister" aired on Ukrainian TV channels.

As the main reason for stepping down, Yatsenyuk cited the ongoing political crisis in the country that started in late 2015.

"The political crisis in the country has been orchestrated artificially. The desire to change one person has made politicians blind and paralyzed their will for real change. The process of change of the government has become a mindless running on the spot," Yatsenyuk said.

Yatsenyuk pledged to submit his resignation to the parliament on Tuesday. If the parliament accepts the resignation, the government will be subsequently dissolved as the Ukrainian Constitution stipulates that the resignation of a prime minister will result in the resignation of the entire cabinet.

Yatsenyuk's decision to resign came two months after he survived a no-confidence vote. His support rate dropped sharply in March for his failure to keep the state institutions functioning smoothly, and his perceived inability to tackle corruption and stabilize the economy.

Yatsenyuk, 41, served as Ukraine's economy minister, foreign minister, and parliament speaker between 2005 and 2008. He came to power in February 2014 after protesters toppled the previous government.