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Poroshenko invites his rival Zelensky to televised debates on Monday

The Ukrainian President said he was ready repeat the try if his opponent fails to face him

KIEV, April 14. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, who is running for his second term in office, has invited his rival, Vladimir Zelensky from the Servant of the People party for live debates on ICTV on Monday evening.

"Dear Vladimir Alexandrovich, I was invited to take part in the Svoboda Slova [Freedom of Speech] program on ICTV tomorrow. I will be there tomorrow. Don’t be afraid - there is nothing scaring about the debates," he said before appearing at the Olympic National Sports Complex in Kiev.

He asked Zelensky to say whether he would take part in the program or not. He said he was ready repeat the try if his rival fails to face him on Monday.

In the first round of Ukraine’s presidential polls on March 31, the candidate from the Servant of the People party, Vladimir Zelensky, received 30.24% of the vote, while Poroshenko, who seeks a second term, came in second with 15.95%. The runoff is scheduled for April 21.