After releasing dueling videos attempting to set the conditions for a presidential debate, incumbent President Petro Poroshenko and his challenger, comedic actor Volodymyr Zelenskiy, have finally managed something akin to a brief debate: a live, televised phone call.
And it was not a polite conversation.
The verbal clash occurred on April 11, when Poroshenko made an unexpected appearance on a late-night political talk show on the 1+1 television channel. The president has previously said he will sue the channel — which belongs to oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky — for defamation.
Zelenskiy is a star on 1+1. His company has produced a variety of comedy shows and television series for the channel since 2012. Poroshenko has called Zelenskiy “a puppet of Kolomoisky.”
When Poroshenko showed up unannounced at the 1+1 studio on the evening of April 11 and invited Zelenskiy to debate live on television, Zelenskiy had already left for Paris, where he was scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on April 12. Poroshenko will also meet Macron on the same day after a stopover in Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
As a result, Zelenskiy joined the show live by phone. The exchange was rancorous, to say the least.
“Poroshenko knows well that I am in Paris now, because the wonderful cars of his Security Services of Ukraine followed me to the airport,” Zelenskiy said, switching from Ukrainian to Russian midway.
“As for the debate, I suggested April 19 at Olimpiysky Stadium. You agreed – the stadium it is. I also asked you to call me Volodymyr Oleksadrovych or Volodymyr, not scum or a drug addict. (The insults) continue, but it’s not a big deal. I’m a simple man. I can accept it.”
Poroshenko retorted: “I’m not interested in your movements. I also have a meeting in France, and I’m leaving for Berlin tomorrow.”
Zelenskiy snapped back: “Mr. Poroshenko, I don’t have a private jet, nor a presidential plane. I took a scheduled flight.”
The two men continually talked over one another.
“Mr. President, the people haven’t interrupted you for five years,” Zelenskiy said, having already interrupted Poroshenko several times.
Poroshenko shot back: “This is not a debate if you don’t listen to the answer.”
The argument got so heated that the show’s host, Natalia Moseichuk, had to intervene to bring the exchange to an end.
But that was not before Poroshenko testily asked Zelenskiy: “Have you finished?”
Zelenskiy replied: “I will finish in five years, and you are going to finish on the 22nd” of April — the day after the runoff vote.
Poroshenko again asked: “Have you finished?”
Zelenskiy responded: “Do you want me to repeat it again?”
Poroshenko continued to egg Zelenskiy on: “Have you finished or not?… Something is wrong with the connection. I heard you and now I will be talking, do you hear me?”
“I have no issues connecting with the people of Ukraine. I’m inviting you to Olimpiysky Stadium on April 19,” Zelenskiy retorted.
Poroshenko continued: “Have you finished? Are you ready to listen to me?”
“With pleasure,” Zelenskiy said.
“Thank God. The connection is restored. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, I’m not interested in your movements. It’s your private matter, and (not a) state one,” Poroshenko said.
After that, the two candidates continued to argue over holding a debate. Poroshenko again said he would be waiting for Zelenskiy at Olimpiysky Stadium at 2 p.m. on April 14.
“Now I will finish. April 19 at the Olimpiysky Stadium. Period,” Zelenskiy replied. Then he hung up.
Rancorous campaign
As the rivalry between the two candidates grows more bitter, Zelenskiy — a political novice, comedian, and winner of the first round of the vote — has extended his lead to 71.4 percent, according to the latest poll issued ahead of the April 21 runoff.
Zelenskiy’s growing support comes amid a sustained campaign of criticism by Poroshenko supporters and a journalistic report that he made 13 trips to Geneva, Switzerland and Tel-Aviv, Israel — where oligarch Kolomoisky lives — in the last two years.
The embattled Poroshenko — whose election campaign has been dogged by a corruption scandal, accusations of vote buying, and criticism over stalled reforms — is polling at only 28.6 percent.
Last week, both candidates publicly took drug tests and agreed to a debate on April 19 at Olimpiysky Stadium.
However, the president has since suggested that they have another debate on April 14.
Criticism
On April 12, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who finished third in the first round of the vote, released a video address to both candidates. She said both candidates had crossed the line with their behavior on the television show.
“Millions of Ukrainian didn’t want to see it,” Tymoshenko said.
“There are people who believe that you have done good things for Ukraine. In this difficult hour, I advise you not to become a part of someone’s show,” she said, addressing Poroshenko. “No matter how hard it is, protect the status of the president. Keep the president’s bar high.”
Tymoshenko also asked Zelenskiy not to belittle the dignity of the presidency, which he may soon obtain. “No matter how intense the competition is, it is important to remain human beings,” she said.
She also chided Zelenskiy for showing disrespect to the incumbent President of Ukraine when he hung up on Poroshenko.
The 1+1 television channel has also responded negatively to the incident. On April 12, the channel’s CEO, Oleksandr Tkachenko, wrote on Facebook that Poroshenko had “shamefully forced his way into the studio” using his powers as president.
He said 1+1 will take Poroshenko to court for previous accusations he had made against the channel.
