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Zelensky plans to hold debate with Poroshenko on April 19

Poroshenko earlier said he would be waiting for Zelensky at a debate at the stadium on April 14

Vladimir Zelensky EPA-EFE/STEPAN FRANKO

Vladimir Zelensky

© EPA-EFE/STEPAN FRANKO

KIEV, April 8. /TASS/. Ukrainian presidential contender from the Servant of the People Party, comedian Vladimir Zelensky, plans to hold a debate with his rival in the upcoming runoff election, incumbent President Pyotr Poroshenko, at Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium on April 19. He called on Ukrainians to get together to formulate questions for Poroshenko.

"My debate with Poroshenko, during which I will be able to ask him any questions, will be held on April 19 at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex," he said in a video address posted on his headquarters’ Telegram channel.

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"I believe that the Ukrainian people have an enormous amount of questions for the president that have piled up over the past five years, which you cannot ask him, but I can do that on your behalf," he emphasized.

That said, Zelensky called on Ukrainians to send him questions they would like to pose to Poroshenko. "Therefore, please write comments - which question you want to ask Poroshenko," he added.

On Sunday, Poroshenko said he would be waiting for Zelensky seeking to debate him at the stadium on April 14. The president added though that he didn’t think the stadium was the best venue for such an event.

According to Ukraine’s law on presidential elections, the debate should take place on April 19, the last Friday before the runoff election.

On Sunday, Ukraine’s Central Election Commission summed up the official results of the first round of the election. Vladimir Zelensky nominated by the Servant of the People Party garnered 30.24% of the vote, while Poroshenko secured 15.95%.

The runoff election is scheduled for April 21.

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

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Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Japanese government refrains from commenting on Russia’s latest hypersonic missile

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Iran begins installation of three new generations of centrifuges to enrich uranium — TV

The decision was reportedly made in response to the anti-Iran resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Putin stays open to contacts to reach 'peaceful track' — Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on November 21, announcing that in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia, Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time

Bank of Russia lifts official dollar rate to 102.58 rubles for November 23-25

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West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

The former Austrian foreign minister stressed that she "counted on rational Western decision-makers, but irrationality is unfortunately on the rise among them"

US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

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Lin Jian also reaffirmed Beijing's position on the Ukrainian issue

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Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

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US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

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