The parties of President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk appear to have won big in Ukraine's parliamentary elections on Sunday, with each taking about 21 percent of the vote, according to incomplete preliminary results. A third Europe-looking party, Selfhelp, has 11 percent so far, giving Poroshenko a solid majority governing coalition and a mandate to end the pro-Moscow rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
"This is a big victory for pro-Ukrainian and statehood (anti-Putin) parties, which will be in the vast majority in the new parliament," says Standard Bank analyst Timothy Ash. It was also a "big vote for the Western reform agenda," which will cause new tension with Russia. Allies of ousted Russia-aligned President Viktor Yanukovich appear to have won about 10 percent of the vote, but the communists didn't win enough votes to get any seats — marking the first time since Ukraine gained independence from Russia that parliament won't have any communists.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Netherlands split on WFH for sex workersSpeed Read Councils concerned over 'nuisance' of at-home sex work, but others say changes will curb underground sex trade
-
'He adored Trump, and then rejected him'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
The Thursday Murder Club: who's in the film and what we can expectSpeed Read Author Richard Osman reveals starry cast set to play his 'septuagenarian sleuths'
-
How would we know if World War Three had started?Today's Big Question With conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, the 'spark' that could ignite all-out war 'already exists'
-
Will Iran attack hinder support for Ukraine?Today's Big Question Pro-Kyiv allies cry 'hypocrisy' and 'double standards' even as the US readies new support package
-
The issue of women and conscriptionUnder the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
-
Why is Ukraine backing far-right militias in Russia?Today's Big Question The role of the fighters is a 'double-edged sword' for Kyiv, say commentators
-
Ukraine's unconventional approach to reconstructionUnder the radar Digitally savvy nation uses popular app to file compensation claims, access funds and rebuild destroyed homes
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
-
Where has the Wagner Group gone?Today's Big Question Kremlin takes control of Russian mercenaries after aborted mutiny and death of leadership
-
Will Ukraine's leadership reset work?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy hints at ousting of popular military chief, but risks backlash amid dwindling munitions, delayed funding and Russian bombardment
