U.S. President Barack Obama and the European Union's first president, Herman Van Rompuy, have congratulated Viktor Yanukovych on winning Ukraine's presidential election.
"A telephone conversation took place between Barack Obama and Viktor Yanukovych, during which the U.S. president congratulated Viktor Yanukovych on his victory in the presidential elections in Ukraine and gave a high assessment to the level of development of democracy in Ukraine, which was confirmed during the presidential elections," a statement on the Yanukovych web site said on Thursday.
Yanukovych narrowly won with 48.95% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced Wednesday with 100% of ballots counted following Sunday's second round. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received 45.47% of the vote. Final results will be available by February 17.
"The European Union and Ukraine enjoy close relations based on common values and strong mutual interests," Rompuy said in a statement. "In this regard, I particularly welcome the fact that the elections were generally conducted in accordance with international standards."
"I trust that under your leadership our relationship will continue to thrive," the EU president added, inviting Yanukovych to Brussels "at the earliest opportunity."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Yanukovych by telephone on Tuesday.
Despite praise from international monitors and governments, Tymoshenko is contesting the results of the election in court, claiming to have evidence of hundreds of violations at polling stations.
Yanukovych's opposition Party of Regions said Thursday they were winning the court battle, and Yanukovych has urged Tymoshenko to resign as prime minister, saying democratic leaders should acknowledge the public will.
Ukraine has been plagued by political rows since the 2005 elections.
In the past couple of years Tymoshenko, a leader of the "orange revolution" protests that overturned Yanukovych's tainted victory in 2004, openly squabbled with her former ally, outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko. The feud badly damaged Ukraine's economy as it struggled with the global crisis, effectively forcing potential foreign creditors to hold back rescue packages because of domestic political turmoil.
Yanukovych said Ukraine would focus on ties with Russia and other ex-Soviet states, but would also seek closer relations with the European Union and the United States.
KIEV/BRUSSELS, February 11 (RIA Novosti)
