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Thousands rally in Kyiv in support of incumbent president

Apr 19, 2019 | 7:07 AM

KIEV, Ukraine — Thousands have rallied in the Ukrainian capital to support President Petro Poroshenko who is trailing in opinion polls ahead of this Sunday’s election.

Poroshenko will be hoping he can help turn the tide in a televised debate Friday against his opponent, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who grew popular thanks to a television show where he plays the Ukrainian president.

Poroshenko warned supporters in Kyiv that a victory for Zelenskiy would damage the country’s closer economic and political co-operation with the European Union.