Ukraine presidential rivals trade barbs in stadium debate Published duration 19 April 2019 Related Topics Ukrainian presidential election 2019

image copyright Reuters image caption Rival candidates: Petro Poroshenko (L) and Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine's rival presidential candidates have held a long-awaited head-to-head televised debate at Kiev's giant Olympic stadium.

Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky and incumbent president Petro Poroshenko shook hands before launching scathing attacks on one another.

Mr Zelensky is the clear favourite for Sunday's second-round vote, polls say.

But Mr Poroshenko argues that he is a political novice unfit for such a demanding job.

Mr Zelensky has relied on a slick social media campaign to tap into the frustration of many younger Ukrainians with establishment politicians, cronyism and corruption.

The debate in the capital's 70,000-seat stadium - where Mr Poroshenko's supporters appeared to outnumber Mr Zelensky's - was the first and only direct clash between the two rivals in the campaign.

The stadium had been divided into two halves for the debate, with a stage for each candidate to speak from at each end of the pitch - but Mr Poroshenko and Mr Zelensky ended up speaking on the same stage.

What did they say?

"I am not a politician," said Mr Zelensky, who spoke first. "I am just a simple person who has come to break down this system."

image copyright AFP image caption The debate was broadcast on Ukrainian TV

Mr Poroshenko responded by accusing his rival of avoiding active-duty military service and said he would not be able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We only have a beautiful and bright sweet wrapper in which everyone can find what he is looking for," he said.

A score draw

By Jonah Fisher, BBC News, Kiev

Two days before the final round of the election Mr Zelensky, a comedian, exchanged views with his opponent President Poroshenko for the first time.

Despite having no political experience Mr Zelensky is the favourite to win.

The polls suggest he is on track to get more than twice as many votes on Sunday.

So anything bar a complete humiliation in this debate was really a victory for the comedian.

In the event, this head to head encounter - played out on football pitch - was probably a score draw.

Both men flung insults at the other - with Mr Zelensky saying his own candidacy was the direct result of the president's mistakes and broken promises.

Mr Poroshenko in turn accused the comedian of complete incompetence and said he had often made jokes at Ukraine's expense.

How did we get here?

The debate was agreed more than a week ago, but they disagreed over the date for it.

On 14 April Mr Poroshenko turned up at the stadium and used Mr Zelensky's absence as an opportunity to answer journalists' questions and attack the comedian.

image copyright AFP image caption Mr Poroshenko's supporters appeared to outnumber those of his rival

Earlier, Mr Zelensky had set a surprise condition for holding such a debate: they must both undergo blood tests to detect any drugs or alcohol. Both were then photographed separately giving blood samples.

Who are the candidates?

Mr Zelensky is a dollar millionaire, thanks to his popular comedy series and other acting roles, while Mr Poroshenko is a billionaire who got rich through confectionery and TV businesses.

Mr Zelensky's links to billionaire oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky - a leading opponent of Mr Poroshenko - have led some to question the comedian's credibility as a true "outsider" candidate.

Mr Poroshenko took power in a 2014 election following an uprising that overthrew the previous pro-Russian government. His supporters credit him with bolstering the army, making Ukraine's Orthodox Church independent of Russia and securing visa-free travel to Europe.