Ukrainian leader's re-election drive to win the army vote stutters

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko speaks during an interview with Reuters on board his plane on the way from Berlin to Paris at an unknown location in France, April 12, 2019. REUTERS/Sergiy Karazy/File Photo

NOVOLUHANSKE, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko thought he could rely for his re-election in part on the votes of soldiers who have spent years fighting pro-Russian separatists. But a visit to the frontline found low morale and little enthusiasm for him.

Such views go some way to explaining why Poroshenko's attempt is faltering to cast himself as the defender of Ukraine against what he calls Russian aggression.