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She is the favorite polls: the face of the "orange revolution" in Ukraine, officially launched in the presidential race of March 31. Yulia Tymoshenko, who is running for the third time, intends to take the place of Petro Poroshenko, who came to power in favor of the pro-European revolution of Maidan 5 years ago. The former head of the Ukrainian government, which has lost none of its charisma, has applied at a public meeting of his party in Kiev.
Tailor red, blond hair pulled into a bun, Yulia Tymoshenko appears on stage after a series of statements of his supporters. Among them are the first president of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, and former Georgian head of state Mikheil Saakashvili.
The woman who has twice been prime minister promises a different path for Ukraine.
" Today we are entering a new era of success, happiness and prosperity," says Yulia Tymoshenko . Ukraine is to this day the poorest country in Europe. We are behind Moldova. One has the impression that all of Ukraine and not only the East and Crimea are in a state of war. "
The war which enters its fifth year figures prominently in the speech-river of nearly two hours. Yulia Tymoshenko even puts on the scene for the occasion dozens of veterans of the conflict of Donbass.
" Donbass and Crimea is Ukraine forever, we will not back down. Our people live there, our blood flows there. I know that Ukraine will win the war, "she says.
Yulia Tymoshenko already sees herself as supreme leader of the Ukrainian army. It arrives for the moment ahead of the voting intentions, before the outgoing President Petro Poroshenko, who has not yet officially launched into the campaign.
► (Re) read: Ukraine: kick off of a presidential campaign that looks hard