Part of Zelenskiy’s lead in opinion polls stems from a backlash against President Poroshenko’s Ukrainization policy

Part of Zelenskiy’s lead in opinion polls stems from a backlash against President Poroshenko’s Ukrainization policy, Vijai Maheshwari writes from Moscow for Politico. “Poroshenko’s policy of “Ukrainization” — promoting Ukrainian language and culture and severing cultural ties with Russia, as with the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church earlier this year — has left many Russian-speakers feeling disenfranchised…. Zelenskiy’s meteoric rise is a sign that the pushback is underway…. Zelenskiy’s message for voters is clear: Vote for me, and I will help unify Ukraine and protect the rights of Russian-speakers.”