In the interview, he claimed that the Ukrainian government is making a "serious attempt" to limit the control of the country's oligarchs over the market, which Poroshenko said "isn't right".
Separately, Poroshenko said that his country is going to ask the West for more defensive weapons if the military conflict between Kiev and southeast Ukraine continues. This is something that Poroshenko said will help Ukraine create an "effective system of defense" in the area.
As for the oligarchs, the Independent noted that last week, Odessa Region Governor Mikheil Saakashvili, who is believed to be Poroshenko's ally, added fuel to the fire by suggesting that a small number of local oligarchs currently effectively "own and operate a shadow government in Ukraine."
The Independent also recalled that whereas one of Poroshenko's election promises was to temper the power of the Ukrainian oligarchs, he himself came under fire for failing to dispose of his own assets.
In June 2015, it was announced that the assets of the International Investment Bank, more than fifty percent of which are owned by Poroshenko, had increased by about 3.7 times.
.@KEigendorf "break the power of the oligarchs"? Poroshenko IS oligarch himself!
— Malinka (@Malinka1102) 27 августа 2015
In the second quarter of this year, the assets reportedly stood at 1.78 billion hryvnia, or 80.6 million dollars, according to the current exchange rate.
During his election campaign, Poroshenko also expressed a readiness to give up his own companies. However, Poroshenko appears particularly reluctant to sell off his chocolate business, which he calls a fifth child in his family. He has repeatedly referred to the economic meltdown in Ukraine, which allegedly prevents his confectionery corporation Roshen from being bought.
The German magazine Spiegel has since reported that a total of fourteen new candy stores owned by Poroshenko's Roshen chain have opened in the center of the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
According to Forbes magazine, the fortune of Poroshenko is estimated at 750 million dollars, and he is on the list of Ukraine's 100 wealthiest people.
