MOSCOW (Reuters/AFP) -- The Kremlin said on Monday that it was too early to speak about possible cooperation with Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky, but added that Moscow respected the choice of the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine has entered uncharted political waters after near final results show Zelensky, a comedian, winning Sunday’s presidential election by a landslide, dramatically upending the political status quo in the ex-Soviet republic.
Zelensky, whose only previous political role was playing the president in a TV show, trounced incumbent Petro Poroshenko in a stinging rebuke to the establishment fueled by anger over war and social injustice.
Ukrainians looked to the future with hope and anxiety after the performer took 73 percent of the vote, according to nearly complete official results.
The star of the sitcom "Servant of the People", now in its third season, has vowed to stick to the pro-European course set out by his predecessor. But he has also said he will try to improve ties with arch-enemy Russia.
On the streets of Kiev, many praised honest elections and a peaceful transfer of power after popular uprisings of 2004 and 2014.
"People showed that they want change," 28-year-old Karina told AFP.
"We had the most honest polls in the history of Ukraine," she added, praising Poroshenko for conceding defeat soon after exit polls were published.
Zelensky -- who at 41 will be Ukraine's youngest ever president -- presented a vague manifesto and one of his campaign slogans was, "No promises. No apologies".
He shunned traditional campaign rallies, instead performing comedy gigs, and implied he would use the same unorthodox style to run the country of 45 million dependent on international aid.
It remained unclear Monday who would fill top positions, including the role of prime minister.
U.S. President Donald Trump and French leader Emmanuel Macron called the political novice to congratulate him on his landslide win.
Outgoing Poroshenko said he stood ready to help his successor, despite a bitter campaign.
Russia -- which Kiev and the West accuse of fuelling a smoldering separatist conflict in Ukraine's industrial east -- said it saw an opportunity with the new leader.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said there was "a chance" to improve ties.
"What's needed for this? Honesty. And a pragmatic and responsible approach," Medvedev wrote on Facebook. There was no immediate comment from President Vladimir Putin.