When on April 3, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of Russia’s third-largest party LDPR, declared that he will recognize Ukrainian elections only if the winner is comic-turned-candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy, it came as no surprise. After all, during the election campaign, Russian media has made his opponent, incumbent President Poroshenko, the key target of hate speech, as revealed by prevailing sentiments on the Russian VKontakte social network. The reason is that Poroshenko, who came to power after the EuroMaidan Revolution ousted his pro-Russian predecessor in 2014, has taken a hardline stance against Russia and despite the blow of Russia’s occupation of Crimea and war in Donbas led Ukraine westward. This has made many an analyst suppose that Russia prefers anyone but Poroshenko to win the election. Taken together with Zelenskiy’s vague statements on Russia and total inexperience in politics, this makes one suppose that Zelenskiy is the preferred candidate for Ukraine’s huge, aggressive neighbor.
2019 Presidential Election
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Presidential candidate and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky addresses the media after casting his ballot at a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 18, 2018.
