For Kremlin, Ukrainian election a choice between lesser of three evils

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reacts during a session of parliament, after lawmakers supported his amendments to the constitution regarding the country's intentions to join the European Union and NATO, in Kiev, Ukraine February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - Before Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in east Ukraine, Moscow had a Ukrainian president who did much of what it wanted. Now, as Ukraine readies to elect a new leader, none of the main candidates look that enticing to Russia.

Viktor Yanukovich, the last Moscow-friendly Ukrainian president, was toppled by protests in 2014 and fled to Russia, and Petro Poroshenko, his successor, has put fierce opposition to Moscow at the heart of his re-election campaign.