Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko speaking on March 28 to his supporters as he held his last campaign rally in the western town of Lviv ahead of the first round of presidential election on March 31:
-- "By ticking a candidate on a voting ballot, each of you will give an answer to important questions of the existence of a country. The first question is whether Ukraine will continue on its way toward the European Union and NATO. The second question is whether the Ukrainians will allow the revenge of pro-Russian forces and the victory of candidates who are convenient for Russia at the presidential election and at the parliamentary elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The third question is whether we are able to oppose attempts by the Kremlin to conquer Ukraine again and to turn it into, if not a part, then into a satellite of an empire."
-- "Ukraine and future of our people is at stake. And we will never allow anyone to disrupt our elections."
-- "It is always important to remember the motives of those who openly spread lies. My opponents have been pouring rivers of shameless lies on me in recent weeks. The main tool of spreading lies in recent months, sadly, is the 1 + 1 channel. This TV channel has become a submissive executor of the political orders of its owner [Ihor Kolomoiskyy]. He has fled abroad, but he simultaneously moves two figures on the election chessboard. The figures are called Ze1 and Y2."
And speaking to reporters following the rally in Lviv:
-- "We definitely need to protect free and fair elections in Ukraine. You see now here in Lviv what is the enthusiasm of the people just for the future of Ukraine, for protecting democracy in Ukraine, for protecting the rule of law in Ukraine. And I am absolutely confident that we have enough power just not to allow any pro-Putin, or nationalistic, or small Nazi groups to try to block, or to cancel, or to attack our election. We are responsible, we understand how important this election is for the democracy in Ukraine, for the future of Ukraine and for the stability in Europe. And I am absolutely confident that we can protect it."