Zelensky invites Poroshenko to debate, gives him 24 hours

Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has invited incumbent Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to a presidential debate at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv.

A respective video address has been posted on the Facebook page of the Zelensky team.

"I accept the challenge. Here are my conditions. I am waiting for you here at NSC Olimpiyskiy. The debate will take place in front of the people of Ukraine. All television channels have the right to broadcast the debate live, all journalists have the right to attend. The candidates must undergo a medical examination and prove to the people that there are no alcoholics or drug addicts among them. The country needs a healthy president," Zelensky said.

He also said that "as a sign of respect for at least a third of Ukrainian citizens," Poroshenko should publicly say that "the debate will take place not with a puppet of the Kremlin or Kolomoisky, not with a vatnik, not with a maloros [little Russian], not with a simpleton, not with a clown, but with Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky."

"I give you 24 hours. Think," Zelensky added.

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