Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rapidly congratulated Donald Trump while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightist government celebrated his victory in the US presidential election.

Zelenskiy, in a message shortly after Trump claimed victory, praised the election win as “impressive” and said he looked forward to an “era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership.”

The speed of the message aimed to quickly build ties with the next administration in Washington amid persistent uncertainty over what a Trump presidency would mean for the war.

Under Democratic President Joe Biden, the United States has poured in tens of billions of dollars in military and financial aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Trump has criticised the level of U.S. support, refused to say he wants Ukraine to win the war and promised to end the conflict before he takes office in January, without explaining how.

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs,” Zelenskiy wrote in his statement.

“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.”

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a lawmaker from the Holos party, said the transition until Trump takes office in January could be significant.

“There is a window of opportunity for Biden and the Democrats to take the bold steps they have not dared to take before,” he wrote on Telegram.

He said the expectations for Trump’s presidency would be determined by his appointments.

As the results rolled in on Wednesday morning, residents of Kyiv said they were eager to hear how he would stop the war.

“I guess we are all waiting for just the only thing — just to stop the war and as Trump promised to stop the war in just one day, we are all waiting for it,” said Oleksii Iarokha, 41.

“We are waiting for this straight move: stop the war in just one day. It could be today, tomorrow, we can wait till Friday. You are the president, please do it, Mr. Trump.”

The outcome is a relief for Netanyahu’s coalition, which has clashed with President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration over the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

Trump’s win a relief for Netanyahu

Congratulating Trump, Netanyahu said the former president was set for “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,” he said in a statement.

“This is a huge victory.”

Far-right ministers in the government also welcomed the results.

“Yesssss, God bless Trump,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who heads one of two hardline, pro-settler parties in Netanyahu’s coalition, said on X.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads the other pro-settler party, said: “God bless Israel, God bless America.”

Israel’s settler leaders also welcomed the election results after Biden’s administration imposed sanctions and asset freezes on settler groups and individuals involved in violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

“We expect to have an ally standing unconditionally beside us as we fight the battles that are a war on the entire West,” Israel Ganz, chairman of the main Yesha settler council, said in a statement to Reuters.