Elections in Ukraine can end in complete surprise

Ukrainian expert Vadim Tryukhan talks to Eurasia Diary

Interviews 13:35 27.03.2019

Next presidential elections will be held in Ukraine on March 31. Moscow TV channels actively follow the ongoings. Ukrainian political commentator Vadim Tryuhan answered questions of Eurasia Diary.

 

- Is it possible to give a forecast today about the winner of the elections? Or to say how many tours are expected?

- In Ukraine, the seventh presidential election is more competitive than ever before. And it’s not just the number of candidates (39), but also that 3 days before the elections no one can certainty predict who will go to the second round. Real chances still have at least 5 candidates: Boyko, Hrytsenko, Zelensky, Poroshenko and Tymoshenko.

Previously, there was always a struggle between candidates from the government and from the opposition, it was always understood who was the first two favourites. It is too early to predict someone's victory. I would like to see Smeshko, Hrytsenko and Bezsmertnyi in the second round, apart from Zelensky who is now more popular than the rest of the applicants.

Why precisely one of them? Because they are the most prepared for the work of the President of a belligerent country and the most honest with their compatriots. And who will be in the second round on the election results, we will find out on April 1.

 

- What are the chances of the current president P. Poroshenko? As it is known, Zelensky the comedian leads in the ratings.

- The probability of a change of power in Ukraine is quite high. This situation is due to too high level of distrust of Ukrainians towards President Poroshenko — over 70%. Despite the unprecedentedly intense election campaign, he did not manage to regain the trust of voters.

 

- How can Ukrainian-Russian relations change if Ukraine determines the new president of the country?

- Whoever becomes the next president of Ukraine, Poroshenko, Zelensky, Hrytsenko or someone else, there will be a change in relations with Russia.

There is hope that negotiations on finishing the war in the east of Ukraine will be more effective. Although this hope is weak, since the Kremlin has so far no political will to exit the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Regarding Crimea, the prospects for resolving the issue are not yet a prelude to the outcome of the elections. This is a long-running problem.

 

- Can Russian propaganda and television influence the choice of Ukrainians?

- Ukrainian viewers have already developed immunity against Russian propaganda. As it was at the end of 2013 - the beginning of 2014, RosPropagadTV does not affect the brains of our citizens. Moreover, it can be assumed that the effect will be the opposite.

 

- What can the new president of Ukraine offer Russia in order to come to an agreement with Russia on real peace?

- During negotiations with Russia, no one will trade in independence and sovereignty. Therefore, they will be difficult and long with any new President of Ukraine. But the key to success is a powerful coalition of states supporting Ukraine. There are no political leaders in the world who do not understand what the current Putin regime is like. However, no one wants war either. Therefore, using the “carrot and stick” method, by common efforts, Russia can be gradually returned to a civilized framework of behavior towards other countries, including Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

 

-  Which of the candidates what if win at the elections will accelerate Ukraine’s path to NATO?

For Ukraine, the question of joining the EU and NATO is a matter of survival. Therefore, whoever becomes the next President will have to make serious adjustments to the institutional mechanism for ensuring the execution of this task, as well as to improve personnel policy. In addition, we must not forget that in order to move forward, it is necessary to show success in domestic policy - anti-corruption activities, economic development, etc.

The problem is that Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential republic in the form of government. The president alone cannot prepare the country for joining NATO, let alone joining the EU. It is the task of the government and parliament. Therefore, it is vitally important for the President, who would not become them, to get a loyal majority in parliament and the government, according to the results of the autumn elections. This is the task he will have to perform, starting from the first day at the office.

 

Vadim Valeryevich Tryukhan - Ukrainian diplomat, the director of the Coordinating Bureau for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration in 2008-10.

 

 

Interviewed by Kamal Ali

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Russia accuses Ukrainian military chief of ordering downing of war prisoner plane
22:10 05.07.2025
Türkiye supports firefighting operations in Syria’s Latakia
22:00 05.07.2025
UNRWA calls for immediate fuel delivery to Israel-blockaded Gaza before shutdown of basic services
21:45 05.07.2025
Pashinyan: Armenia needs new constitution
21:20 05.07.2025
UN chief condemns Russia's recent 'series of large-scale' attacks on Ukraine
21:00 05.07.2025
Kazakh servicemen arrive in Azerbaijan to participate in Tarlan - 2025 exercise
20:45 05.07.2025
Erdogan: US has crucial role in achieving ceasefire in Gaza
20:20 05.07.2025
Building collapse in Pakistan kills 15
19:45 05.07.2025
Turkish FM Fidan to attend 17th BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro
19:30 05.07.2025
Australia pledges $283M for green energy project by explosives maker
19:10 05.07.2025
OPEC+ speeds up oil output hikes, adds 548,000 bpd in August
18:45 05.07.2025
Inter completes signing of Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma
18:20 05.07.2025
Turkish president sees Zangazur corridor 'as part of the geoeconomic revolution'
18:00 05.07.2025
Turkish president urges Azerbaijan, Russia to show restrain amid tension
17:45 05.07.2025
China says war 'not a solution' to Iranian nuclear issue
17:15 05.07.2025
At least 18 people injured after fire alert on Ryanair plane in Majorca as passengers abandon jet & leap from wing
17:00 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani PM meets with UNESCAP executive secretary
16:45 05.07.2025
Lebanese president affirms coordination with Syria, warns against sectarian tensions
16:15 05.07.2025
21 killed in Israeli strikes on tents, school-turned-shelters in Gaza Strip
16:00 05.07.2025
Turkish construction sector takes on international projects worth $6.2B in first half of 2025
15:45 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani woman wrestler becomes European champion
15:30 05.07.2025
Mayor: Death toll in Russian attacks on Kyiv reached two
15:15 05.07.2025
Texas floods kill 24 people and leave many missing from girls' summer camp
14:45 05.07.2025
Conor McGregor has interest in White House fight after Trump's UFC idea
14:30 05.07.2025
Netanyahu era sees 40% surge in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
14:15 05.07.2025
Equatorial Guinea sues France in UN court to block sale of Paris mansion
14:00 05.07.2025
US president 'disappointed' over phone call with Putin
13:45 05.07.2025
Academy of Azerbaijan`s State Security Service hosts graduation ceremony
13:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan and Pakistan ink memo in Khankendi
13:15 05.07.2025
Trump says there could be Gaza deal next week
13:00 05.07.2025
First flight from Türkiye to Syria launched
12:45 05.07.2025
US marks its 249th anniversary of independence
12:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan's role in regional integration discussed at London conference
12:00 05.07.2025
Uzbek Minister: Mirziyoyev's visit to Azerbaijan crucial for dev’t of transport links
11:45 05.07.2025
Trump says US will start talks with China on TikTok deal this week
11:30 05.07.2025
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif concludes visit to Azerbaijan
11:15 05.07.2025
Pakistani premier proposes low-emissions corridor at Economic Cooperation Organization summit
11:00 05.07.2025
Rwanda pledges to deliver on its part of US-brokered peace deal with DR Congo
10:45 05.07.2025
Hezbollah rejects calls to disarm before end of Israeli ‘aggression’ against Lebanon
10:30 05.07.2025
Trump says Gaza ceasefire deal may come next week after ‘positive’ Hamas response
10:15 05.07.2025
Hamısı