BERLIN, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s presidential hopeful Petro Poroshenko has indirectly urged former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to drop her presidential ambitions for the sake of the unity of Ukrainian people.

In an interview with the German Bild newspaper, the business executive held up as an example (Ukrainian Udar Party leader) Vitali Klitshchko, who said he would not run for Ukrainian president.

“He got over his ambitions not to jeopardize the unity of the country,” Poroshenko said. “Yulia Tymoshenko should also realize that after so many deaths on Maidan, we have found ourselves in a new country that has deserved a new mentality and new politicians,” said Poroshenko, who is seen as one of the front-runners for the Ukrainian presidency.

In reply to the question whether Kiev wanted to join NATO without delay, he said “No, and this depends not on us but on the organization itself”.

“We feel that the members of the alliance have no solidarity on the issue. If elected president, I would like to hold negotiations with our neighbors on new alliances or additional possibilities for security,” he said.

Poroshenko also said economic sanctions against Russia would be expedient. “I believe it will be correct if Germany boycotts the purchase of Russian gas” until Moscow gives up Crimea, he said.

Poroshenko, the founder of Roshen Confectionery Corporation, one of the biggest confectionery producers in the world, said “a tycoon must never be president” and pledged to sell the сompany if elected.

The presidential election in Ukraine is due on May 25.