Popular comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to run for president of Ukraine.
He said this in an address shown live on One Plus One TV associated with tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskyy in the time slot usually reserved for the president's traditional New Year address.
"The situation in Ukraine is such that every Ukrainian has three options. The first option is to continue living as you do now, go with the flow, which is normal, it is up to everyone to decide. The second option is to pick up your stuff and move abroad, earn money there, send it back to your near and dear, and this is normal too. But there is also the third option, which is to try and change something in Ukraine on your own. I have chosen just this option for myself," he said.
"I was long asked whether I am running or not. You know, unlike our big politicians, I did not want to make any empty promises. And now I am promising you something which I am going to do right now. Dear Ukrainians, I promise you to run for president of Ukraine. And I am doing this right away: I am running for president of Ukraine. Let us do it together," Zelenskyy said.
According to some opinion polls, Zelenskyy is one of the favourites in the 2019 presidential election. He had around 9-10% of public support in early December.