Can Ukraine’s election fix its broken politics?

Next month Ukraine goes to the polls in its seventh presidential election since it achieved independence in 1991. Five years on from Euromaidan, and the resulting Russia invasion, the country remains bitterly divided between pro and anti-Europeans. Yet, this will be the first election not to feature a powerful, pro-Russian force amongst the frontrunners.

Although, of course, that isn’t to say Russia won’t be doing its best to influence the election – something the Ukrainians have become used to. As is often the case in this part of the world, an election isn’t really an election if the Kremlin doesn’t interfere. In its defence, Russia insists that it’s actually the West doing the meddling – specifically the UK. Several pro-Kremlin outlets have claimed that Britain not only plans to interfere but will do so to ensure the election of a pro-Russian candidate, as, apparently, that would help to solve the conflict in Donbass quicker. Interesting.

This time Ukrainians can choose from a whopping 44 candidates.