KIEV, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's parliament approved on Friday National Bank Council head Petro Poroshenko as foreign minister.

Poroshenko was nominated by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. The Ukrainian leader is his daughters' godfather.

The ex-Soviet state has not had a top diplomat since former foreign minister Volodymyr Ohryzko was dismissed on March 3.

Poroshenko pledged to maintain balanced relations with Russia.

"[Bilateral] relations will be based on mutual respect for sovereignty," Poroshenko said.

Although he described Russia as Ukraine's "largest and the most important partner," he said Kiev would mostly focus its foreign policymaking on Europe.