Berlin, 6 November 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Congratulations for Donald Trump poured in early on Wednesday from leaders around the world, even before the Republican's victory in the US presidential elections had been confirmed.

"Congratulations to [Donald Trump] on his impressive election victory!" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

"I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," he added. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together," Zelensky wrote.

The mood was ebullient out of Moscow, which has led a full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two and a half years, with no end in sight.

"Hallelujah," wrote Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on her Telegram channel, noting that the election winner was the one who loved his own country.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who now sits on the Russian Security Council, said Trump has an important quality for Russia: "As a businessman to the core, he cannot stand spending money on various minions and lackeys – on idiotic allies, on stupid charity projects and on gluttonous international organizations."

He said it was a sad day for the "scum" in Kiev, in a post on Telegram.

Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, whose alliance has a key role in the war on Ukraine, congratulated Trump on X, writing: "His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong," Rutte added.

The conservative broadcaster Fox News had already declared Republican candidate Trump the overall winner against Democrat Kamala Harris, but other media networks and US news agency AP had not done so.

Trump declared himself the winner in a speech to supporters in Florida.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz added his congratulations.

"For a long time, Germany and the US have been working together successfully promoting prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue to do so for the wellbeing of our citizens," the chancellor wrote on X.

Earlier, Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone about the election outcome. A German government spokesman said the two European leaders had agreed to coordinate closely with each other.

"We will work in this new context for a more united, stronger, more sovereign Europe. In cooperation with the US and defending our interests and values," Macron wrote on X after the conversation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to working with the presumptive 47th president of the United States on "a strong trans-Atlantic agenda" that delivers for their people.

Von der Leyen said the European Union and the United States "are more than just allies," bound by a "shared history, commitment to freedom and democracy, and common goals of security and opportunity for all."

"Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship," she added.

Outgoing European Council President Charles Michel, meanwhile, said the EU looked forward to cooperating constructively with the US, while "defending the rules-based multilateral system."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper" following Donald Trump's "historic election victory," the PA news agency reported.

Congratulations also came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said the strategic connections between their two countries would now become even stronger.

"Good luck with your work, president!" the far-right prime minister added.

"Congratulations, Mr President ... You made it happen!" Poland's conservative nationalist president, Andrzej Duda, posted on X.

Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders, a declared Trump supporter who won the election in the Netherlands almost a year ago, joined in the chorus.

"Congratulations America! Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections!" Wilders wrote on X before the official result was announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "history's greatest comeback."

"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his "friend" Donald Trump had won the presidential election after a "great struggle."

China, meanwhile, was more cautious in its response. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the election was a domestic affair that Beijing would handle as usual once the results are officially announced.

Photo: EPA