Petro Poroshenko's presidency, starting with his election in June 2014, unfolded under challenging circumstances including parliamentary opposition, an economic crisis, and conflict. Shortly after taking office, Poroshenko declared a one-week truce in the conflict with pro-Russian forces, which escalated due to Russian military intervention. Despite these efforts, the conflict settled into a stalemate, encapsulated by the Minsk agreements, designed to freeze the war along a demarcation line but also solidifying uncertainty in the Donbas region.

Economically, Poroshenko's term was marked by the signing of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement on June 27, 2014, and significant steps towards European integration, including visa-free Schengen Area travel for Ukrainians in 2017. However, Ukraine faced severe financial difficulties, with a sharp devaluation of the national currency in 2014 and significant GDP contractions in 2014 and 2015.

Poroshenko's administration undertook several reforms, including military and police reforms aimed at bringing Ukraine closer to NATO standards and transforming the Militsiia into the National Police. Yet, these reforms were criticized for being incomplete or half-hearted. The economic situation saw some stabilization with the help of the IMF, but controversies over oligarchic influences and property nationalizations marred his tenure.

Foreign policy achievements under Poroshenko included support for anti-Russian sanctions and furthering Ukraine's European Union integration. Domestically, anti-corruption efforts and judicial reforms were initiated, but with limited success and ongoing challenges, including scandals and the perceived slow pace of reforms. The creation of the Ministry of Information Policy aimed to counter Russian propaganda, yet its effectiveness was questioned.

Poroshenko's decision to terminate Ukraine's participation in the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2018 marked a significant shift away from Russian influence. His tenure also saw legal victories, such as Naftogaz's arbitration win against Gazprom, and moments of tension with Russia, notably the Kerch Strait incident in 2018. Constitutional amendments in 2019 affirmed Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union and NATO.

However, controversies such as the delayed sale of his confectionery factory in Russia, the "Panamagate" scandal, and the struggle to navigate between national reform and maintaining old power structures complicated his presidency. Despite significant achievements in state-building and striving for European integration, Poroshenko's tenure was also a period of contention, highlighting the complexities of Ukraine's transition.