Poroshenko to stay in politics regardless of presidential election result

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko is expected to stay in politics regardless of the outcome of the country’s presidential election.

Sergey Berezenko, the deputy head of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc (BPP), said that the head of state will continue to be at the forefront of Ukrainian affairs, pointing to a possible role in party politics.

“Poroshenko definitely remains in Ukrainian politics, as well as in its history, regardless of the election results. I am convinced that President Poroshenko will do everything in his power to maintain an international coalition against Russia in support of Ukraine,” Mr Berezenko told the Ukrainian press.

The deputy head of the BPP added that the president is most likely to use his diplomatic network and experience to maintain Western sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Eastern Ukraine and the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

According to the latest polls, Mr Poroshenko is widely expected to lose the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election to comedian-turned-politician Volodymyr Zelensky. The election takes place on April 21.