Ukrainian parliament defies new president, keeps Cabinet

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday refused to accept the Cabinet's resignation, in another snub to the nation's newly sworn-in president.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the comedian who won a landslide victory in last month's presidential election, faces a hostile parliament dominated by former President Petro Poroshenko's supporters.

Zelenskiy called snap parliamentary elections for July 21 in a bid to get more of his supporters into parliament. In anticipation of that, lawmakers have sought to block the president's efforts to form a more loyal Cabinet.

The Verkhovna Rada refused on Thursday to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, keeping his Cabinet in place.

That vote follows the parliament turning down a proposal by Zelenskiy to amend the electoral law last week.

Despite the Rada's resistance, Zelenskiy on Thursday asked parliament to dismiss three top Poroshenko loyalists - Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and SBU Security service chief Vasyl Gritsak. A date has not yet been set for a vote.

Zelenskiy also has called for the dismissal of Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko - a move that would similarly require parliamentary approval.