A senior official of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has refused to recognize the new president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.

According to Press TV, Denis Pushilyn, chairman of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic's Supreme Council, said on Saturday that "Poroshenko is definitely not our president.... We did not elect him."

Pushilyn, however, expressed willingness to hold talks with Kiev on condition that Ukraine's security forces withdraw from the country's eastern region.

"After they withdraw military forces from our territory, after we exchange hostages and prisoners of war from both sides...then maybe a dialogue with Poroshenko will be possible," Pushilyn said.

He rejected Poroshenko's public mandate hours after the 48-year-old chocolate tycoon officially took the oath of office.

Ukraine's fifth president has promised to lay out a plan for maintaining the country's unity.

Poroshenko has also promised to visit the troubled eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to hold talks with unarmed representatives.

SS