Ukraine's likely new President according to exit polls is set to be Petro Poroshenko - a confectionary tycoon who's chocolate company Roshen has made him one of the richest businessmen in the country.
He's now one of the country's most popular politicians, despite unrest in the East of the country where pro-Russian separatists want stronger allegiances with Moscow.
With Petro Poroshenko set to become Ukraine's President our correspondent Natalie Feary, who is in Kiev, takes a look at what challenges lie ahead, and if people in the capital see him as well place to tackle the country' s problems…..
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AUDIO: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0526ukraineresult-nf.mp3
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It's a busy Monday morning here in Kiev, people rushing to get to work but all the while votes are being counted from the presidential elections. On Monday morning with 50% of the votes counted Petro Poroshenko looks set to become President, which would confirm the exit polls. This would be the first time in Ukraine's independence from Russia that a President is elected in a sign that people want someone to take charge as soon as possible and tackle the country's problems.
And people here see him as well placed to lead the country.
SOT Nastia, Ukrainian citizen: I think he could be a good governor because he succeeded in creating a good business with his chocolate corporation Roshen so I think he he could lead the country.
First and foremost is dealing with the unrest in the East of the country, which continues. The airport at Donetsk had to halt flights after armed separatists seized the building. Petro Poroshenko says he will give more regional autonomy, budgetary powers and Russian speaking rights in the East to try to appease people there.
He will also look to tackle the country's economic problems and one economist we spoke to says this will likely include painful austerity measures, which could hit people very hard indeed.
SOT: Volodymyr Golovka, Director, centre for economic and political analysis: The new government will have to implement unpopular measures which as cuts to salaries in the public sphere, pensions and other social payments.
But Petro Porshenko says he also wants to forge closer ties with the European Union, which could help the country's agricultural industry, fruit and vegetable and meat producers. We were at a market in the centre of Kiev earlier and spoke to one business owner who hopes his business will also improve.
SOT, Aleksey, flower stall owner: We hope to have more clients, and that more people will spend money, we want to see the end of these troubles and get back to working normally.
What Petro Porshenko doesn't have is a strong backing in parliament so he will have to forge alliances to get laws passed. The new president will have fewer powers than his predecessor. But the billionaire chocolate tycoon is seen as a pragmatist. Indeed he has said he wants to repair relations with Moscow, though whether that will be reciprocated remains to be seen. SOC