KIEV, March 17. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, who is running for re-election, has called on voters to support him at the upcoming polls to keep Ukraine’s independence from Russia.
"The goal of this election is to preserve real independence from Russia. Just a little effort and this spring we will cross the point of no return with Russia," Poroshenko said speaking on Mikhailovskaya Square in Kiev.
According to Poroshenko, Ukrainian voters will decide on their country’s future development at the March 31 election. "On March 31, we will either confirm our path to Europe or return to the empire," he stated. After the vote, pro-Russian forces will either take revenge or Ukraine will continue its path towards the European Union and NATO.
Over the past five years, Ukraine "has opened its doors wide to Europe and is as close to the EU and NATO membership as never before," Poroshenko said. "If we keep going this path for another five years, we will go that far that Russia will lose any chance of regaining control over Ukraine," he stated.
Poroshenko vowed that by the end of his second presidential term he planned to prepare the country for joining the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union. He stressed that only membership in the EU and especially NATO guarantees the country’s independence and security of its citizens.
The Ukrainian president vowed that he seeks to return Crimea and Donbass to Ukraine by political and diplomatic means. "After the election we will take political and diplomatic steps on ensuring the return of Donbass and Crimea," he said, stressing that "the path to peace lies through further enhancing the army." The new presidential term will start with upgrading Ukraine’s missile program.
Poroshenko also assured that the upcoming election would not be disrupted.