KIEV (Reuters) - It was a moment showing Ukrainian tycoon Petro Poroshenko's energy and his eye for political opportunity. The man now poised to become president decided to stage a lightning visit to Crimea in late February as Kiev was losing its grip on the region.
While this mission failed, it was one of several eye-catching actions by Poroshenko to boost his credibility among pro-European Ukrainians during months of upheaval, and to assume a strong position in the power vacuum left by the overthrow of Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich.