Petro Poroshenko vows to restore peace

THREE months after the Maidan revolution and in the midst of an undeclared war, Ukrainians elected a Petro Poroshenko, a pro-European businessman, as president on May 25th.  With 60% of the ballots counted, Mr Poroshenko won 54% of the votes, enough to win in the first round.

The election brought a sense of relief, but no jubilation or triumph. Maidan, the square in Kiev that had been the scene of weeks of protests which resulted the overthrow of Viktor Yanukovych, a corrupt and authoritarian president, was dark and mostly empty on the night of the elections, apart from a few remaining tents and barricades. But the feelings of nationhood on display during the protests were channeled into long queues at the polling stations.  “We are not just choosing a new president. We are choosing a new country where everything depends on us,” said Oksana Selezneva, a 24-year-old IT specialist.

Ukraine is going through the most difficult period in its 23-year history as an independent country, trying to build a nation and stay unified.  “Our every vote is a slap in the face of Vladimir Putin,” another voter said. ...Continue reading