Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky was born in 1978 in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in what was then the Soviet Union. His father is a professor at the Faculty of Cyber Genetics and Computer Hardware at the Kiev Economic Institute, his mother is an engineer. Volodimir goes to school there, studies law and graduates in 2000.
Not a courthouse, but a stage
However, Zelenski did not aspire to a career as a lawyer: he was already active in the theater during his studies and founded the Kvartal 95 (Woonblok 95) cabaret troupe. In 2006 he became nationally known by participating in the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars, he also starred in several plays. He makes his fortune with Studio Kvartal 95, one of the most successful entertainment studios in Ukraine. Through this production company he sells his films, stand-up comedy shows and television series in 21 countries. It makes him a millionaire.
Country in chaos
In January 2014, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych resigned after massive popular protests and was replaced by billionaire Petro Poroshenko. He inherits a corrupt country in the bone marrow whose east is ruled by Moscow-backed separatists. The country’s economy is in decline.
From virtual to reality
Against this background, “Servant of the People” premieres, a sitcom in which Zelensky plays the role of history teacher Vasiliy Goloborodko, whose impassioned diatribe against corruption and religion is filmed by a student and goes viral. Goloborodko eventually becomes president. The play becomes a huge success and will become Zelensky’s unlikely roadmap to the presidency: In 2018, Kvartal 95 officially registers Servant of the People as a political party.
Elections
The elections will be held in 2019, about 44 candidates will register, including Zelensky. He quickly takes the lead, not least thanks to his unorthodox campaign strategy. Zelenski doesn’t make long visionary speeches, but short speeches and comedic statements on YouTube and Instagram. His message: put an end to corruption and the power of the oligarchs. On March 31, 2019, he won the first round of the presidential election with over 30% of the vote, leaving Poroshenko far behind with a dismal 16%.
President
On April 21, Zelensky was elected president with 73% of the vote. Cold two days later, Putin offers to distribute Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens in eastern Ukraine. On Facebook, Zelensky responds by offering Ukrainian citizenship to Russians and others “who suffer under authoritarian or corrupt regimes”. Zelensky is sworn in as president on May 20, 2019.
Political scandal
In September 2019, the Zelensky government becomes embroiled in a political scandal in the United States. US President Donald Trump is blocking a massive military aid package to Ukraine until Kiev investigates alleged misconduct by former US Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, according to an intelligence whistleblower. American. Hunter was a board member of Ukrainian energy conglomerate Burisma Holdings at the time, and Trump claims Biden senior abused his office to favor his son.
Zelenski says he will investigate the Burisma issue, the package will eventually be released on September 11, 2019. Contacts between Trump and Zelensky led the US House of Representatives to launch impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Declining popularity
However, there is more to Zelensky, whose popularity has plummeted rapidly in two years: by the end of 2021, only 25% of Ukrainians will support him. Ukrainians are dissatisfied with the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the fight against corruption and the poor economic conditions. Zelensky’s name also appears in the Pandora Papers; he and his right-hand man and head of the State Security Service of Ukraine run a network of offshore companies in the Virgin Islands, Cyprus and Belize.
Doubtful image
Ukraine and Zelensky also have a dubious image abroad. Up until February 23 of this year, we found Ukraine to be an extremely dubious country, largely in the pockets of a number of incredibly corrupt oligarchs. Zelensky had lined his pockets too,’ says BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg. On the eve of the Russian invasion in early 2022, Zelensky’s popularity polls are downright dramatic. As Russia builds up its forces on its borders, Zelensky calls for calm and distances himself from Western warnings that war with Russia is imminent. However, he asks NATO countries for weapons.
War
When Russia invades Ukraine on the morning of Thursday February 24, 2022, Zelensky declares martial law, breaks diplomatic relations with Russia and declares general mobilisation. Although Zelensky is one of Russia’s main targets, he remains in Kiev and addresses his compatriots from there. American and British forces offer to evacuate him to continue his presidency from Poland, but Zelensky reportedly replies that he needs ammunition, not a ride. Zelensky, his wife Olena Kiyashko, daughter Oleksandra and son Kyrylo remain in Kiev. His courage is contagious, time will write later.
Zelensky survives a total of three attempts on his life, two by the Wagner Group mercenary army, one by Chechen dictator Kadyrov’s personal guard. The murders are foiled thanks to reports from Russian FSB secret service employees who oppose the invasion.
Transformation
With lightning speed, Zelensky transforms from an unpopular president into a war leader in disguise, an image he cultivates as carefully as anyone else. As during his presidential election campaign, Zelensky and his entourage are making full use of social media to communicate policies, rally support and encourage his people. So much so that, according to the Harvard Political Review, he is becoming “the first true online war leader in history”. “After February 24, Zelensky was raised on the shield,” says Hammelburg.
Also listen | War in Ukraine | Bernard Hammelburg
Zelensky repeatedly addresses parliaments via video links to secure international support. Zelensky will also address the UN Security Council in April 2022, in which he will wash members’ ears and accuse them of passivity. BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg calls Zelensky cynical and scathing in that speech. “He especially stressed that UN members should ask themselves why they were actually there: ‘Why are you still there if you can’t intervene in something so bad,’ said Zelensky. He found this unacceptable».
Image
Thanks to his knowledge and experience with the media, Zelensky quickly emerged as the face of the Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression. In this respect, the flamboyant and wise Zelensky is no match for Putin with his rigid Soviet style and ditto war rhetoric. Zelensky wins the information war head-on: for example, when the Russians spread false propaganda that Zelensky has fled the capital, Zelensky takes to the streets and defiantly films himself in central Kiev.
Incidentally, Zelensky receives not only laurels, but also criticism. When a deflected Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile lands on Polish (and NATO) territory in November, Zelensky insists against his better judgment that it is a Russian missile. It remains to be seen why, according to Europe correspondent Geert-Jan Hahn, Hammelburg calls him “imprudent,” the event leads to division: “While the country backed him as one man last month, there is now something of divided”. According to Hahn, Zelensky goes too far with his stubbornness.
PR champion
The tentative pr-tech crown on Zelensky’s work is his visit to US President Joe Biden on December 21, 2022 and his speech to the US Congress where he presents a Ukrainian flag of the embattled Bachmut. And with which he receives not only standing ovations, but also an extensive military support package with the coveted Patriot missile systems. And that just days before the House of Representatives falls into Republican – and more critical – hands. “He did a fantastic job, in English, and it went quite well,” says BNR foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg.
To wear
It remains to be seen to what extent Zelensky’s popularity will secure Western support for Ukraine for the duration of the war. The war seems mired in a long-standing battle, some analysts see the first signs of Ukraine fatigue among Western ranks and thanks to the Republican majority in the US House of Representatives, Joe Biden’s blank checks are over.
And although a heavyweight like former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger advocates peace talks in which Ukraine will have to make concessions regarding Crimea and the occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky has drawn a line in the sand. The cession of those areas to Russia is not negotiable. And with that, there’s a good chance Zelensky will remain wartime president for some time to come.
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