Volodymyr Zelensky, a comic with no political experience, appears to have received the most votes in the first round of Ukraine’s presidential election. WSJ’s Jason Bellini reports. The vaulting of a popular TV comic to the top of Ukraine’s presidential race presents a quandary for the West by threatening to displace a leader and ally who for five years has led his country’s costly war against Russia. The comic, Volodymyr Zelensky, secured almost twice as many votes as President Petro Poroshenko in a first round of voting on Sunday, reflecting the popular fervor against established politicians Europe and the U.S. A runoff is scheduled for April 21.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 03, 2019 17:04 UTC