Amid a separatist uprising in the east and with Russian troops still massed on the border, Ukrainians go to the polls on May 25 to elect a new president. RFE/RL spoke to people on the streets of Kyiv about whom they will vote for and why.
Anna Bondar, 24, a private entrepreneur from Kyiv, says she is going to vote for confectionary magnate Petro Poroshenko.
"A country is basically a big enterprise. So if a person has managed to organize a big company and his employees at his factory are content with work conditions, then I believe that he can bring order in the country."
"I don't watch television as a rule. I took it out of my home a long time ago. We trust the media, but use unofficial media like [Ukrainian online television station] Hromadske and [Russian Internet channel] Dozhd TV. There is some kind of truth there."
Natalya Matarchyuk, 63, a pensioner from Kyiv, also says she will vote for Poroshenko.
"I am going to vote for Poroshenko because he's the most reliable candidate, it seems to me."
"The most important thing for me is that we don't suffer, that we are free, and that we can buy things with our own money."
Dmytro Tatishvili, 45, a construction worker, says he will vote for Euromaidan doctor Olha Bohomolets.
"I don't particularly trust our media. But as far as the Russian media goes, I'd be better off not saying anything. It's not just disinformation. There is such filth on there that it's insane. I'm often on forums and people have no idea. They think people rallied here against Russia. People didn't stand here [on the Maidan] against Russia."
Svitlana Moroz, 46, a Russian-speaking doctor from Dnipropetrovsk, says she will vote for either Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh or former Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko.
"I think the phrase that 'they're not oligarchs' is overused, but there is something to this. Mainly, I just get a sense of patriotism and love for the country from them."
"I think [the most important quality of a president] is that he loves his country and his people, has a single goal, is able to negotiate, but does not cave in to other people."
"It's Petro Poroshenko. I think he's the most prudent person and the one we need right now -- not a radical -- to unite the east and the west. Because the east and the west are one in the same people. You can't say that there are worse people here or better people there."
Anna Bondar, 24, a private entrepreneur from Kyiv, says she is going to vote for confectionary magnate Petro Poroshenko.
"A country is basically a big enterprise. So if a person has managed to organize a big company and his employees at his factory are content with work conditions, then I believe that he can bring order in the country."
Anna Bondar (left)
"I get my information from different sources. I have acquaintances in the presidential administration, I use the Internet -- Ukr.Net is the best site at the moment -- and of course through friends.""I don't watch television as a rule. I took it out of my home a long time ago. We trust the media, but use unofficial media like [Ukrainian online television station] Hromadske and [Russian Internet channel] Dozhd TV. There is some kind of truth there."
Natalya Matarchyuk, 63, a pensioner from Kyiv, also says she will vote for Poroshenko.
Natalya Matarchuk
"I am going to vote for Poroshenko because he's the most reliable candidate, it seems to me."
"The most important thing for me is that we don't suffer, that we are free, and that we can buy things with our own money."
Dmytro Tatishvili, 45, a construction worker, says he will vote for Euromaidan doctor Olha Bohomolets.
Dima Tatashvili
"To be honest, there is no candidate I trust. Apart from Bohomolets, they have all been in power and did nothing in this time. So much time has gone by since Ukraine's independence and they have done nothing. Bohomolets is probably the only candidate. In principle, I'd vote for her.""I don't particularly trust our media. But as far as the Russian media goes, I'd be better off not saying anything. It's not just disinformation. There is such filth on there that it's insane. I'm often on forums and people have no idea. They think people rallied here against Russia. People didn't stand here [on the Maidan] against Russia."
Svitlana Moroz, 46, a Russian-speaking doctor from Dnipropetrovsk, says she will vote for either Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh or former Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko.
Svitlana Moroz
"I am dubious about this idea that we should all vote for the person that people are proposing, to show that we are united, and that everyone else is bad. My candidates are not the most well-known. I will choose which of the two to vote for.""I think the phrase that 'they're not oligarchs' is overused, but there is something to this. Mainly, I just get a sense of patriotism and love for the country from them."
"I think [the most important quality of a president] is that he loves his country and his people, has a single goal, is able to negotiate, but does not cave in to other people."
Maria Telychko
Maria Telychko, 65, a pensioner from Lviv, says she is voting for Poroshenko."It's Petro Poroshenko. I think he's the most prudent person and the one we need right now -- not a radical -- to unite the east and the west. Because the east and the west are one in the same people. You can't say that there are worse people here or better people there."