Ukrainian leader congratulates Erdogan on election win

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday congratulated his Turkish counterpart on his presidential election win.

Poroshenko on his Twitter account said: "Congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as president of Turkey. [I am] Confident that people's trust and new constitutional powers will open additional ways for further development of Turkey and well-being of the Turkish nation."

"Ukraine is determined to build on UA-TR strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in all spheres," he added.

Turkish citizens voted in the parliamentary and presidential elections on Sunday.

Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK) announced Erdogan won an absolute majority in the presidential election.

Currently, 99.2 percent of the ballot boxes have been opened as Erdogan is leading with 52.5 percent of the votes while his major rival Muharrem Ince lags behind at 30.6 percent.

The People's Alliance -- a coalition of Erdogan's Justice and Development (AK) Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- has won 53.6 percent of the votes as 99.1 percent of the boxes have been opened so far in parliamentary votes.