Obama pledges ;full support; for Ukraine;s new president

USPA News - U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday congratulated candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko on his recent victory in Ukraine`s presidential election, offering him the "full support" of the United States but urging him to quickly implement reforms to unify the country, the White House said. Obama and Poroshenko spoke by telephone on Tuesday morning after Poroshenko received 54.69 percent of the vote in Sunday`s presidential election, according to Ukraine`s Central Elections Commission, which had processed about 98.66 percent of votes by Tuesday evening.

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received 12.82 percent of the vote. During the call, Obama congratulated Poroshenko and offered him the full support of the United States as he seeks to unify and move the European nation forward, according to a White House readout. It said the U.S. government will continue to assist Ukraine to achieve those goals. "The President stressed the importance of quickly implementing the reforms necessary for Ukraine to bring the country together and to develop a sustainable economy, attractive investment climate, and transparent and accountable government that is responsive to the concerns and aspirations of all Ukrainians," the White House said, adding the leaders agreed to continue their conversation during Obama`s trip to Europe next month. Poroshenko - often nicknamed the "Chocolate King" due to his chocolate stores across Ukraine - will face enormous challenges when he takes office to replace Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Ukraine lost control of the Crimean Peninsula to Russia in March and has since suffered deadly clashes in the country`s east, where separatists have proclaimed independence in the hopes of joining Russia.