German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) meets with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk in Berlin May 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Poroshenko takes early lead in Ukraine's presidential vote

BERLIN - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said on Wednesday that his country should become a European country under the newly elected President Petro Poroshenko.

Visiting Yatsenyuk was invited to a dinner by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at her Chancellery in Berlin, according to a statement posted on the website of the German government.

Merkel told Yatsenyuk she was glad that the presidential election was held in Ukraine, and a result was already achieved in the first round of the ballot.

Yatsenyuk said the security situation in Ukraine was still complicated, saying all countries, in particular Russia, should fulfill their international obligations.

The goal, he stressed, is that Ukraine would become a European country with its new president.

Preliminary official results showed that Poroshenko, a 48-year-old billionaire and independent politician, led Sunday's presidential election in Ukraine with a vote share of 53.7 percent.

Merkel welcomed the result. In a telephone conversation with Poroshenko on Tuesday, she said the election clearly showed Ukrainian people's commitment to unity and to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict, calling on parties in Ukraine to continue their efforts to reach inner reconciliation.

Besides Yatsenyuk, Merkel on Wednesday also invited Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to dinner and discussed the issue of association agreements with the European Union (EU).

Merkel expressed support for the two countries in choosing their own path, saying the agreements would help create closer relations between them and the EU in the fields of politics, economy and culture.

Georgia and Moldova will sign association agreements with the EU on June 27. Ukraine has already signed the political part of its agreement with the 28-member bloc.