KIEV: A comedian tipped to take over Ukraine’s presidency and his incumbent rival went head-to-head in a bitter stadium debate on Friday, as campaigning reached its grand finale before a weekend vote.

Polls show Volodymyr Zelensky, a 41-year-old standup comic with no political experience, handily defeating President Petro Poroshenko in a second-round of voting on Sunday.

The showman’s bid started as a long shot but he leapfrogged establishment candidates amid frustration over corruption, economic trouble and a conflict with Moscow-backed insurgents in the country’s east.

Several thousand spectators attended the first and only policy head-to-head of the extraordinary campaign that took place in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium amid beefed-up security.

The rivals appeared together on stage and opened the debate on a positive note by shaking hands before quickly launching mutual attacks.

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

“I am the result of your mistakes and promises.” 53-year-old Poroshenko attacked the inexperience of the untested Zelensky, questioning his ability to serve as commander-in-chief.

“We only have a beautiful and bright sweet wrapper in which everyone can find what he is looking for,” said an emotional Poroshenko.

He said Zelensky had over the past few years avoided active-duty military service and added he would not be able to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The debate brought to a close a race that at times descended into farce as the candidates exchanged insults and underwent drug tests at Zelensky’s insistence.

A survey by the Rating pollster released Thursday showed Zelensky winning 73 percent of the vote against 27 percent for Poroshenko.

Supporters credit Poroshenko — who took power after a popular uprising in 2014 — with implementing economic reforms, rebuilding the army, securing an Orthodox Church independent of Russia and winning visa-free travel to Europe.

However, he won just over half of Zelensky’s vote share in the first round of the election last month.

The stakes are high for the country of 45 million people seen as a buffer between the European Union and Russia.

Ukraine is mired in a smouldering war with Moscow-backed separatists in the industrial east, a conflict that has claimed 13,000 lives. A parliamentary election is also due to be held in October.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier his team would record the debate so that Putin could watch when he is free. “We will watch it for sure,” he said.

In a new attempt to squeeze Kiev, Moscow announced Thursday it would be limiting Russian exports of coal, oil and petrochemicals that Ukraine relies on.

The West is closely watching the race amid concern that a new government might undo years of reforms.

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted both candidates for separate talks last week.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2019