EU leaders welcome parliamentary elections in Ukraine

BRUSSELS - The European Union on Monday welcomed Ukraine's parliamentary elections, and said they expected the early formation of a new government.

"A reinvigorated reform process, including the launching of a country-wide national dialogue, will be crucial in view of Ukraine' s political association and economic integration with the EU and to consolidate Ukraine's unity and internal cohesion," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said in a joint statement.

The eighth Ukrainian parliamentary elections, held on Sunday, were conducted under a mixed system, with 225 members of parliament elected on party lists and the remaining 225 on single- seat constituencies.

Due to the fact that elections were not held in 27 constituencies, including 12 in Crimea, only 198 lawmakers will be elected in the single-seat constituencies.

There were no immediate reports on winners in the single-seat constituencies across Ukraine.