Volodymyr Zelenskiy wins Ukraine presidential election by 73 per cent landslide

Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy has won the country’s presidential election by a landslide.

After 96 per cent of the ballots were counted, the Central Election Commission said on Monday that Mr Zelenskiy won 73 per cent of the vote. Incumbent president Petro Poroshenko got just 24 per cent.

The European Union congratulated Mr Zelenskiy on his election, pledging strong support for his plans to reform the country and fight corruption.

In a joint letter to Mr Zelenskiy on Monday, EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council chief Donald Tusk said the political novice can "count on the EU's continued and steadfast support of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity".

One of the campaign promises of the TV star, who has no prior political experience, was to unify Ukraine. It has been hit by corruption, an under-performing economy and deadly conflict in the east fuelled by neighbouring Russia.

He has promised wide changes at the top of government, and said that his number one task would be to secure the release of about 170 Ukrainian military members taken prisoner in the east or in Russia.

After exit poll results were announced on Sunday, Mr Zelenskiy had said he would engage Russia to try to end the conflict.

He also claimed, without giving details, that "we will make a very powerful information war" in order to stop the fighting.

Mr Zelenskiy, 41, became famous for his comic portrayal in a Ukrainian TV series of a high school teacher who becomes president after a video rant against corruption goes viral.

Even before the results started trickling in, Mr Poroshenko accepted defeat. He said: “I am leaving office, but I want to firmly underline that I am not leaving politics.”