[An Nahar] U.S. President Barack ObamaIf you like your coverage you can keep it...
hailed "courageous" Ukrainians who went to the polls Sunday in a presidential vote that Washington and the West hope will bring stability back to the country after months of turmoil.
"Despite provocations and violence, millions of Ukrainians went to the polls throughout the country," the White House quoted Obama as saying.
"Even in parts of eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatist groups sought to disenfranchise entire regions, some courageous Ukrainians still were able to cast their ballots," he added.
"We commend the resolve of all those who participated, as well as the efforts of the Ukrainian government to conduct these elections in the face of those threats."
Chocolate baron Petro Poroshenko, a 48-year-old self-made billionaire, has claimed victory in the election, which comes amid a pro-Russian insurgency that thwarted voting across much of the separatist east.