Merkel congratulates Zelensky on victory in presidential runoff

German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Vladimir Zelensky on his landslide victory in Ukraine’s runoff presidential election.

"I congratulate you on being elected to the Ukrainian presidential post with all my heart," Merkel said in her telegram sent to Zelensky and published by the German cabinet’s press service.

"The German government in the future will continue actively supporting Ukraine, especially in its right to sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

"I would be happy to soon receive you in Berlin," Merkel noted, wishing Zelensky good luck and success on this post.

Ukraine’s runoff presidential election was held on April 21. With 97.65% of the vote counted, showman Vladimir Zelensky, a candidate of the Servant of the People party, is winning by a landslide with 73.14% of the vote. Pyotr Poroshenko, who has ruled the country for five years, gets 24.53%.