Ukraine's main pro-EU parties have launched urgent coalition talks, after dominating a parliamentary election warmly praised by the West and grudgingly accepted by Russia.
President Petro Poroshenko's eponymous bloc and the People's Front of prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk are discussing an alliance that will face daunting challenges – even with likely support on major issues from an overwhelmingly pro-western majority in parliament.
The two leading parties have said they want to form a coalition as soon as possible with third-placed party Self-Reliance – a new group formed by Andriy Sadovyi, the popular mayor of the major city of Lviv.
With 65 percent of votes counted, People's Front had 21.7 percent of votes, the Petro Poroshenko Bloc had 21.4 and Self-Reliance 11 percent.
“The head of state is working on the formation of a powerful democratic coalition in parliament,” said presidential spokesman Svyatoslav Tsegolko.
“With this aim, Petro Poroshenko held a meeting today with Arseniy Yatsenyuk. He also met Andriy Sadovyi. Talks are continuing.”
Mr Yatsenyuk said: “The main task is the swift formation of a pro-European coalition to fulfil the (association) agreement with the EU.”
Ukraine's revolution began last November with protests against the rejection by then president Viktor Yanukovich of a historic trade and political deal with the EU, in favour of closer ties with Russia.
He was ousted in February, after which Russia annexed Crimea and aided separatist rebels in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where fighting with government forces has killed more than 3,700 people and displaced about one million.
Ukraine’s new leaders have signed the EU deal, but implementation of many economic elements has been postponed until the end of 2015.
The EU and US have pledged to help Ukraine through its economic crisis, and they back Kiev's attempts to regain control over eastern regions and have imposed sanctions on Russia over Crimea and its alleged role in Donetsk and Luhansk.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso wrote in a tweet: "Congratulations to the people of Ukraine! Victory of democracy and European reforms' agenda."
The US president Barack Obama said the election "represents another important milestone in Ukraine's democratic development. We look forward to the convening of the new parliament and the quick formation of a strong, inclusive government."
Russia was less enthusiastic, and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov bemoaned "numerous violations" and urged the new government to be "constructive and not determined to continue a confrontational attitude to society and to Russia."
His deputy, Grigory Karasin, said the leading parties “support a peaceful resolution of the internal Ukrainian crisis received a majority”.
He also claimed, however, that “openly nationalist and chauvinist forces received significant support. This creates an additional danger that that there will be more calls for the use of force, for bloodshed”.
The Opposition Bloc party, which includes many old allies of Mr Yanukovich and claims to defend the interest of Ukraine’s Russian-speakers, took around 10 percent of votes.
It is expected to be the third-strongest individual party in parliament, however, once the winners of single-mandate constituencies have been decided.
Half of parliament’s 450 seats are allocated proportionally according to party lists, and half by constituency contests – where dirty tricks are rife and the influence of local business and political elites often decisive.
Opposition Bloc and its rivals accused each other of major violations in single-mandate constituencies, particularly in eastern Ukraine.
While noting some problems, observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the vote "marked an important step in Ukraine's aspirations to consolidate democratic elections in line with its international commitments."
