Petro
Poroschenko, a billionaire confectionery manufacturer, has claimed victory in
Ukraine's presidential vote after exit polls showed a clear majority. He has
vowed to bring peace to the country.
Deutsche Welle, 25 May 2014
"My
first decisive step will be aimed at ending the war, ending chaos, and bringing
peace to a united and free Ukraine," Poroschenko (pictured above left)
said at a press conference in Kyiv, with exit polls showing him a clear victor
in Sunday's poll with almost 56 percent of the vote.
"The
presidential election showed that Ukrainians have chosen the path of European
integration," he added.
The exit
poll results put 48-year-old Poroschenko - known as the "Chocolate
King" - far ahead of his nearest rival, former Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko. If they are confirmed by election officials, a June 15 run-off will
be rendered unnecessary.
Turnout was
strong in the capital, Kyiv, and the west of the country, but voting was
hindered across most of the east by pro-Russian separatists.
Poroshenko
vowed to pay his first trip outside the capital to the eastern industrial belt,
where the pro-Moscow insurgents have declared the creation of their own
independent republic amid violence that has claimed more than 150 lives.
He also
announced victory for boxing champion Vitali Klitschko (pictured above right)
in Kyiv's mayoral election, with exit polls giving the heavyweight boxer turned
opposition hero nearly 60 percent of the vote.
Klitschko
had been in the running for the presidency, but dropped out of the race in
March to support Poroshenko.
Political
turmoil
Sunday's
ballot was called after pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in
February following months of protests sparked by his rejection of an
Association Agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with
Moscow.
Since his
ouster, Russia has annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and vowed to
"protect" the country's ethnic Russian community from alleged
mistreatment.
However,
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is facing the threat of more US and EU
sanctions for his actions, said on Friday he would be ready to work with a new government in Kyiv.
"We understand
that the people of Ukraine want their country to emerge from this crisis. We
will treat their choice with respect," he said.
Ukrainian
authorities had mobilized 100,000 police volunteers to ensure security during
the vote, but no violence was reported.
On
Saturday, however, an Italian photographer and his Russian translator were killed after being caught in a gun battle.
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