Putin sees Ukraine elections as "general battle for our state" – President Poroshenko

March 4, 2019 (UNIAN) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says Russian leader Vladimir Putin sees Ukrainian elections 2019 as a “general battle” for Ukraine, which he has a “manic will” to return to the Russian sphere of influence.  “Putin’s plan is obvious - to destroy the independent Ukrainian state and democracy, to deprive Ukrainian of the right to live in peace and security,” Poroshenko said, addressing the All-Ukrainian public forum "Open Dialogue" held in Kyiv Saturday, according to an UNIAN correspondent. Putin's plan is obvious - to destroy an independent Ukrainian state and democracy, deprive Ukrainians of the right to live in peace and security.

"For Putin, the elections of 2019 are like a general battle for Ukraine, which he maniacally strives to return," he said. The president noted that "Russia is trying to interfere in our elections in the same way as it did during the elections in the USA, France, Germany, during the referendums in Britain and the Netherlands". "Now they are planning to use these technologies in Ukraine, because their motivation is much stronger," he said, adding that "Ukrainians will not allow that".

"Ukrainians won't allow a Russian agent to get in the office of the Ukrainian President, as it was from 2010 to 2014," Petro Poroshenko said, adding that "Ukrainians don't need a president and supreme commander-in-chief who will kneel down before the Kremlin", who will "flirt or chuckle with Putin," and whose "first document to be signed will be the act of surrender to Moscow."