Ukraine's Zelensky wins presidential vote

The comedian garners over 70 percent of vote as Poroshenko gets a quarter

Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian with no political experience other than playing the role of president in a TV show, won a landslide victory in Ukraine's presidential election, with near-complete official counting results showing he has won 73.15 percent of the vote.

President Pedro Poroshenko conceded defeat on Sunday night, shortly after exit polls showed that Poroshenko getting only a quarter of the vote in Sunday's runoff election. He said he was willing to help rival Zelensky transition into the presidency, according to The Associated Press.

According to official results released early on Monday, with 96.94 percent of ballots counted, Zelensky, 41, prevailed by taking 73.15 percent of the vote, while Poroshenko, garnered 24.52 percent, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Ukraine's 1+1 TV channel reported that in all regions of Ukraine Zelensky gained over 50 percent of voters' support.

Russia's TV channel RT reported that the high turnout in the second round of the presidential election in Ukraine reveals an enthusiasm for the promise of change brought by Zelensky.

Zelensky's team celebrated victory as soon as the first official exit polls were out, even reciting a rocket launch-like countdown.

The soon-to-be president didn't waste many words, simply thanking his parents, his wife, his team and Ukrainian citizens who voted for him. He also jokingly thanked the Ukrainian Security Service for "keeping him in shape" during the campaign.

"I will never let you down," Zelensky told jubilant supporters at his campaign headquarters where he was showered with glittering confetti.

"I'm not yet officially the president," he added. "But as a citizen of Ukraine I can say to all countries in the post-Soviet Union: Look at us. Anything is possible!"

As a newcomer to the Ukrainian politics, Zelensky is best known for starring in a political satirical drama called Servant of the People in which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president.

He ran under a political party with the same name as his show.

Since Zelensky had no previous political experience, his campaign focused on his difference with the other candidates rather than on any concrete policy ideas.

Despite this, he won the first round with more than 30 percent of the vote-almost double what Poroshenko got when he finished in second place at 15.95 percent.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China has always respected the Ukrainian people's choice, and sincerely hopes that Ukraine, a friendly partner of China's, will achieve peace, stability and prosperity.

He said China values its ties with Ukraine, and hopes to further bilateral cooperation under the framework of building the Belt and Road Initiative.

On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow has a chance of improving ties with Ukraine under the leadership of Zelensky.

The result of the election "shows a clear demand for a new approach to solving Ukraine's problems", Medvedev wrote on Facebook.

Congratulations also poured in from Europe and beyond, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Poland's Andrzej Duda congratulating the Ukrainian president-elect by phone.

"You will now truly be the Servant of the People," said British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt on Twitter, pledging London's support.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and President of the European Council Donald Tusk said they looked forward to continuing support and cooperation.

"We congratulate President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky," the US embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter.