Foreign minister expects Ukraine to stay on course after election

"Too much effort has been put and too much blood has been shed for Ukraine to start thinking somehow differently," Linkevicius told BNS on Sunday evening as exit polls showed that Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian with no political experience, had won a landslide victory over incumbent President Petro Poroshenko.

"It's crucial that reforms and the Euro-Atlantic course continue to be pursued. This depends on Ukraine itself, but we'll do our best to contribute where possible, he said.

Linkevicius plans to visit Kiev this week.

"I think we'll meet with both the outgoing and incoming leadership. We'll make efforts to maintain our existing relationship," he told BNS.