In a Financial Times report, Roman Olearchyk wrote: “He is the heavyweight champion of the world, but the fight for Ukraine’s future may turn out to be the toughest contest of Vitali Klitschko’s career.”
Speaking with the Financial Times, Klitschko said:“It is a big challenge to build European and democratic standards here in Ukraine. But I know that if you don’t fight you won’t win. If it is necessary for me to quit my boxing career to win this fight for Ukraine’s future, I will do it.”
Referring to the seven-year jail sentence handed down recently to President Viktor Yanukovych’s main rival, Yulia Tymoshenko, Klitschko said: “When a leading opposition figure lands in prison, it smells like dictatorship.”
In the interview, Klitschko said his Udar (Punch) party aims to help put Ukraine back on a path towards democracy and European Union integration after it enters Ukraine’s parliament for the first time after elections next autumn.
