MOSCOW
In the wake of Vladimir Zelensky’s apparent election win on Sunday, talk of cooperation between Kiev and Moscow is premature, according to President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman.
"It’s too early to talk about President Putin congratulating Mr. Zelensky, as well as the opportunity to work together,” Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“Let's proceed from the fact that there are no official results from the elections." He added that 3 million Ukrainians did not vote in the elections and that this raised questions.
Peskov also stressed that Moscow will form its opinion about the new president based on his actions.
In a separate statement, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said there is a chance for improvement in Russian-Ukrainian relations after Zelensky’s apparent win.
The result of the vote showed "a clear request" for new approaches to solving the problems of Ukraine, Medvedev wrote on Facebook.
"I have no doubt that the new head of state will adhere to the rhetoric he used about Russia during the election campaign. ... At the same time, there are still chances to improve cooperation with our country," Medvedev said in his comment.
Medvedev also stressed that the situation in eastern Ukraine must be a priority for the new president.
Zelensky, a comedian, won Sunday's runoff election by a landslide, exit polls showed.
Kiev’s relations with Moscow have been strained since Russia’s illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea. Separatism in eastern Ukraine, along the border with Russia, has further tested ties.
In a maritime standoff last fall, Russia detained some 23 Ukrainian sailors, and they have yet to be released.
