Ahead of presidential polls, Ukraine's Poroshenko says his only opponent is Vladimir Putin

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who launched his bid for a second five-year term on Tuesday, tweeted out a day later saying that his fight is against Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

In a tweet, Poroshenko said that the people of Ukraine are his ally and that he isn't ashamed to say openly that his opponent is Putin. 

"When asked who is my ally, with whom I am willing to unite and coordinate my actions, I answer - My ally is the Ukrainian people. Who is my opponent? I am not ashamed and say openly – my opponent is Putin," read his tweet. 

On Tuesday Poroshenko launched his election bid in front of thousands of supporters. Presidential polls in Ukraine is predicted to be a tight electoral race.

"The feeling of deep responsibility before the country, before contemporaries, before past and future generations prompted me to decide to run again for the presidency," Poroshenko said.

Among his policy priorities, Poroshenko said Ukraine would apply to join the European Union by 2024 and that a special court to try corruption cases would be up and running this year, news agency Reuters reported. 

Poroshenko, along with thousands of believers, took part on Saturday in a mass prayer for a free and fair election which will determine the country's next president on Sunday.

(With inputs from Reuters)