'EU and NATO needed as protection from Russia'

(Patria) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated that the country should join the EU and NATO in order to protect itself from "expansionist" actions by Russia.

Poroshenko, who will try to fight for a second five-year term in the elections on March 31, accused Russia of planning to interfere in those elections, AP reports.

At the same time, he called the elections a "general battle for Ukraine".

 

Україна йде своїм шляхом. Власний шлях розвитку – це звільнення від колоніальної залежності від РФ, послідовний курс на набуття членства в ЄС і НАТО та опертя на власні сили. Це - рішуча відсіч планам Росії знищити незалежність України. https://t.co/YIRsnbOmQX

— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) February 9, 2019

 

According to opinion polls, Poroshenko is trailing comedian Volodymyr Zelensky and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who are his most serious opponents.