JUST-IN: Putin wins Russian Presidential election with landslide victory

President Vladimir Putin has won Russia’s presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, according to preliminary official data.

This implies Putin will serve another six-year term in office.

According to Sky News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first to respond, accusing President Putin of “simulating another election”.

“It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure, as it has already often happened in the course of history, is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever,” he said in a statement.

“There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections, and there cannot be. This person should be on trial in The Hague. That’s what we have to ensure.”

Shortly after, a spokesperson for the White House said the victory is an indicator that “elections are obviously not free nor fair” given how the leader has “imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him”.

A statement released by the UK Foreign Office on X (formerly Twitter), said: “By illegally holding elections on Ukrainian territory, Russia demonstrates that it is not interested in finding a path to peace.”

It said the UK will “continue to provide humanitarian, economic and military aid to Ukrainians defending their democracy”.