Defiant Poroshenko - Ukraine's voters will choose substance over style in election

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attends a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after their working lunch in Berlin, Germany April 12, 2019. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

PARIS (Reuters) - Ukraine's leader on Friday said he was confident of turning the tables on his inexperienced opponent in the second round of the presidential election, saying voters would choose a substantive programme over his challenger's dangerous populism.

President Petro Poroshenko has been fighting for his political survival against Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comedian with no prior political experience, who has a commanding poll lead as the two go into a run-off on April 21.