Thousands rally in Kiev in support of incumbent president
Thousands have rallied in the Ukrainian capital to support President Petro Poroshenko who is trailing in opinion polls ahead of this Sunday's election.
Poroshenko will be hoping he can help turn the tide in a televised debate Friday against his opponent, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who grew popular thanks to a television show where he plays the Ukrainian president.
Poroshenko warned supporters in Kiev that a victory for Zelenskiy would damage the country's closer economic and political cooperation with the European Union.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks to his supporters as protesters gather to march to the Olympic stadium ahead of debates between two candidates in the weekend presidential run-off in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 19, 2019. Friday is the last official day of election canvassing in Ukraine as the presidential candidates and their campaigns will be barred from campaigning on Saturday, the day before the vote. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)
He said Zelenskiy would be a weak president to the benefit of Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and has been bankrolling separatists in Ukraine's east.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaks to his supporters as protesters gather to march to the Olympic stadium ahead of debates between two candidates in the weekend presidential run-off in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 19, 2019. Friday is the last official day of election canvassing in Ukraine as all presidential candidates and their campaigns will be barred from campaigning on Saturday, the day before the vote. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)
Women applaud as protesters gather to march to the Olympic stadium ahead of debates between two candidates in the weekend presidential run-off in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 19, 2019. Friday is the last official day of election canvassing in Ukraine as all presidential candidates and their campaigns will be barred from campaigning on Saturday, the day before the vote. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)
A woman holds an Ukrainian flag as protesters gather to march to the Olympic stadium ahead of debates between two candidates in the weekend presidential run-off in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 19, 2019. Friday is the last official day of election canvassing in Ukraine as all presidential candidates and their campaigns will be barred from campaigning on Saturday, the day before the vote. (AP PhotoVadim Ghirda)