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Photo from Ukrinform – UATV
Incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and TV personality Volodymyr Zelensky, who have reached the second round of presidential elections according to preliminary results, have good chances of winning despite a significant gap between them in the first round.
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, who currently serves as director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.
“I think they both have a good chance of winning. I don’t think that [the gap between the two candidates] will be closer in the round two than it was in the round one,” he said.
He also commented on what each of the candidates may focus on in order to increase their chances of winning the second round.
“They may focus their attention on their own strengths and their opponent’s weaknesses. So, for Zelensky the big issue is corruption, for Poroshenko the big issue is national security,” Herbst said.
The expert also suggested that if Poroshenko wins, he will be able to build his own policy depending on the results of parliamentary elections and the new political configuration of other government agencies.
Meanwhile, if Zelensky wins, the Kremlin will “do some provocations to test him.” At the same time, if Zelensky’s close ties with well-known Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky prove true, this will greatly weaken his presidential ambitions and opportunities if he were to win.
