Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky won a
landslide victory in the country’s presidential election.
Zelensky did not even start campaigning until January. He is a comedian
actor in satirical television series in which his character accidentally
becomes Ukrainian president.
With nearly all ballots counted in the run-off vote, Mr Zelensky had
taken more than 73% with incumbent Petro Poroshenko trailing far behind on 24%.
There are sporadic skirmishes and the situation also remains tense
around Crimea, annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014.
In a tweet, Mr Poroshenko said “a new inexperienced Ukrainian
president… could be quickly returned to Russia’s orbit of influence”
Mr Zelensky told a news conference he would “reboot” peace talks
with the separatists. “We will… continue with the Minsk talks – we will
reboot them,” he said. “I think that we will have personnel changes.
In any case we will continue in the direction of the Minsk talks and head towards
concluding a ceasefire.”
