You're reading: CNN: What Zelenskiy’s win will mean for Ukraine’s relations with Russia

CNN: What Zelenskiy’s win will mean for Ukraine’s relations with Russia

By CNN.

Published April 23, 2019 at 10:48 am

Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy comes on stage at his campaign headquarters in Kyiv seconds before the announcement of the first exit poll results in the second round of Ukraine's presidential election on April 21, 2019.

Photo by Volodymyr Petrov

On April 21, Ukrainians overwhelmingly threw their support behind a political newcomer, actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to become the country’s next President.

After popping the champagne, Zelenskiy faces some serious tasks. Ukraine has been locked in a proxy war with Russia for five years, and the conflict has claimed around 13,000 lives in the country’s east.