Ukraine is preparing for a presidential election tomorrow amid persistent clashes between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the country’s easternmost regions. Ukrainians will vote for a new leader to replace Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanukovych, ousted after deadly protests in February. Billionaire businessman Petro Poroshenko leads all candidates. If he fails to garner more than 50 percent backing, a second-round runoff will be held June 15. Preparations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are being disrupted by the fighting. “It’s not easy to prepare and conduct elections when huge financial, political, and military resources are used to disrupt them,” Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said today in a televised address. “It will be an expression of will of Ukrainians from the west, east, north and south. The choice will be fair and free.” While Russia earlier said the violence threatens to undermine the election’s legitimacy, President Vladimir Putin said he will […]