European leaders congratulate Trump on becoming US president
The Russian president has congratulated Trump on his victory earlier in the day
MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Donald J. Trump on winning the US presidency on Wednesday.
"I congratulate him as is natural between two democratic heads of state," Hollande said. "This American election opens a period of uncertainty."
He said the United States remains France’s key partner and assured that cooperation in all spheres will continue.
Theresa May expressed hope the UK and US "will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defense."
"Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise," May said in a statement.
"I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead," she added.
Angela Merkel said she is ready to work with Trump on the basis of common values of democracy and freedom.
"Germany and America are bound together by values - democracy, freedom, respecting the rule of law, people's dignity regardless of their origin, the color of their skin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or political views," Merkel said.
She added that cooperation with the United States remained a key pillar of Germany's foreign policy.
On Election Day, November 8, United States citizens cast their ballots and elected their 45th US President, Donald J. Trump.
The Republican candidate secured his presidential victory by gaining 290 electoral votes, surpassing the needed 270 to win, while Clinton garnered 218 votes.
The election outcome was a spectacular culmination to a heated Presidential race between the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
The former First Lady Hillary Clinton conceded to her rival by phone once the needed votes were in.