KIEV, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday that he will run for a second term in office in the next presidential election on March 31, the presidential press service said.
"A sense of deep responsibility before the country, before our contemporaries, before the past and the future generations has prompted me to take a decision to be a candidate again for the post of President of Ukraine," Poroshenko said during the forum "From Kruty to Brussels. We Follow Our Own Path."
In his speech, Poroshenko said that Ukraine needs peace with Russia. He also reiterated his commitment to restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity through political and diplomatic means.
At the same time, he said that Ukraine will continue its course toward the integration into the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Poroshenko, a wealthy businessman and independent politician, won a commanding victory in the early presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25, 2014.
The early elections were called three months after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by the parliament.
The 2019 presidential campaign in Ukraine was officially launched on Dec. 31, 2018. Candidates should declare their intention to run for the presidency by Feb. 3.
According to various opinion polls, Poroshenko and opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko are viewed as frontrunners in the presidential race.
