UKRAINE: Ukrainians in Kiev's Maidan square welcome Petro Poroshenko's presidential election victory

Record ID: 695354

  • Title: UKRAINE: Ukrainians in Kiev's Maidan square welcome Petro Poroshenko's presidential election victory
  • Date: 25th May 2014
  • Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (MAY 25, 2014) (REUTERS) WIDE OF MAIDAN, KIEV'S INDEPENDENCE SQUARE MAIDAN PRO-EUROPEAN FLAG TENT WITH PHOTOS OF VICTIMS KILLED AT MAIDAN PEOPLE AT MAIDAN WATCHING LIVE TRANSMISSION OF POROSHENKO ADDRESS AFTER THE EXIT POLL RESULTS ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER AT MAIDAN (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) OLEG, MEMBER OF MAIDAN SELF DEFENCE UNIT, SAYING: "We will see how it works out, Poroshenko and the others, if they do not act as they should, Maidan will stay as long as it is needed." SCREEN WITH POROSHENKO AT HIS HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VASILY, MEMBER OF MAIDAN SELF DEFENCE UNIT, SAYING: "There is no doubt there must be harsh measures undertaken in the east of Ukraine against the separatists, people who saw the seeds of discontent and who harm our country, who want to tear our country apart. We mustn't let this happen. That's why all patriots, all people should act together. I think we need to impose martial law, close the borders and destroy the enemy, there is no other solution. Enough of games." PEOPLE WATCHING SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (RUSSIAN) RITA, STUDENT AT KIEV UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "The main problem is that there is no understanding between east and west, the are such differences between our positions and opinions that the east will never agree with the west. We need a man who will stand between east and west and make us understand that we all belong to one family and that brother should not confront brother." PEOPLE AT MAIDAN (SOUNDBITE) (RUSSIAN) LARISA, TEACHER FROM KIEV SAYING: "He has taken a heavy burden on his shoulders. If he manages to bring peace back to Ukraine, it will be great. I just want all of this to be over and I think that's what everybody wants." PEOPLE AT MAIDAN
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZY33IIRMLA6P30XGR3U26XPJ
  • Story Text: Confectionery magnate Petro Poroshenko claimed Ukraine's presidency on Sunday (May 25) after exit polls gave him a clear absolute majority of first-round votes and he pledged to steer the ex-Soviet state into the European mainstream.
    But the message from Kiev's main square was clear - the new leader will be closely watched and the people could rise up again if they feel cheated.
    "We will see how it works out, Poroshenko and the others, if they do not act as they should, Maidan will stay as long as it is needed," Oleg, one of former Maidan fighters said.
    Three months after Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich fled the capital in the face of a street uprising, Independence Square, or the "Maidan", still looks like a war zone, bedecked with barbed wire and barricades, covered with tents and patrolled by khaki-clad "defenders" in no hurry to pack up.
    But Kiev's - and the world's - attention is now firmly focused not on the Maidan but on eastern Ukraine, where troops are clashing daily with the separatists who have declared "people's republics" and say they want to join Russia.
    "There is no doubt there must be harsh measures undertaken in the east of Ukraine against the separatists ... we need to impose martial law, close the borders and destroy the enemy, there is no other solution. Enough of games," said Vasily, another member of Maidan self defence unit.
    Poroshenko, speaking to supporters at his campaign headquarters Poroshenko, said his first priority was to travel to the east of the country to end "war and chaos" caused by pro-Russian separatist rebels.
    Rita, a Kiev student said she hoped he would help bridge differences between Ukraine and Russia.
    "The main problem is that there is no understanding between east and west, the are such differences between our positions and opinions that the east will never agree with the west. We need a man who will stand between east and west and make us understand that we all belong to one family and that brother should not confront brother," Rita said.
    Most hoped Poroshenko's election will restore normality and stability after months of turmoil.
    "He has taken a heavy burden on his shoulders. If he manages to bring peace back to Ukraine, it will be great. I just want all of this to be over and I think that's what everybody wants," said Larisa, a teacher from Kiev.
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