Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko campaigned in front of his supporters on Sunday but his opponent Volodymyr Zelenskiy was nowhere to be seen.
Poroshenko has been fighting for his political survival against Zelenskiy, a comedian with no prior political experience, who has a commanding poll lead as the two go into a run-off on April 21.
Ukraine's leader arrived at the stadium and waited for 45 minutes to debate his opponent, after which he gave a small news conference in which he was mainly asked about Zelenskiy.
The comedian said he would attend the official debate scheduled for Friday (April 19).
Poroshenko has expressed confidence he can turn the tables in the second round, saying voters would choose a substantive programme over his challenger's dangerous populism.
Vowing to take Ukraine into the European Union if he wins, Poroshenko has sought to paint Zelenskiy as a buffoonish lightweight whose victory would push Ukraine back into Russia's orbit.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters