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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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