The crisis with Moscow, and the subsequent war, has cast a spotlight on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was long seen as a former actor turned president by chance, particularly highlighting his calm demeanor. As Russia wages war on his country, it is likely that Zelensky will be deemed to have been correct from the outset regarding Russian intentions. On Thursday morning, he urged his fellow citizens not to panic in a video message on Facebook and decided to impose martial law, while Russia carried out strikes against Ukraine's military infrastructure and border guards.
The 44-year-old former television star is relatively new to the political scene. He was elected president of Ukraine in 2019, but has not shown hesitation in recent months, even as Washington increasingly warned of an imminent war that could erupt without warning. In a speech addressed to his 40 million compatriots in January, he stated, "What do we need to do? Just one thing: remain calm." He added, "We will celebrate Easter in April, then in May as usual, enjoying the sun, holidays, and barbecues."
On February 16, the day some U.S. officials had identified as a potential start for the Russian invasion, he declared a national holiday named "Unity Day," during which citizens would celebrate with flags and balloons.
Zelensky's political adventure began almost as a joke on the evening of December 31, 2018, with the televised announcement of his candidacy for the presidential elections. Ukraine had been facing Russia since 2014, experiencing a war in the eastern part of the country with separatists. The television series "Servant of the People," first aired in Ukraine in 2015, starred Zelensky, who was then a comedic actor, as an ordinary man who becomes president. He played the role of a sharp-tongued history teacher who rises to the presidency after one of his students filmed him passionately speaking against corruption and posted the clip online. The comedy show achieved great success during a time of profound change in the country, and since then, Zelensky gained increasing popularity.
The pro-European Union Ukrainian revolution in 2014 ousted Kremlin-backed leader Victor Yanukovych, bringing a new political team that had to confront a serious conflict in the east and an economy on the verge of collapse. Zelensky won the presidential elections against candidate Petro Poroshenko in the second round with more than 70% of the votes. However, some Ukrainians were preparing for the worst. Critics compared him to famous politicians like Italian Silvio Berlusconi and U.S. President Donald Trump. His early decision to include members of his production company "Kvartal 95" in his presidential team did not help build public confidence.
Zelensky's initial appearances in the media alongside other world leaders seemed artificial. Ukrainian political analyst Mykola Davydyuk stated, "I think our international partners have difficulty dealing with him. He is not at their level." He explained, "They operate at such a high level that he cannot reach or understand." Nevertheless, some Western diplomats are taken by his charm. One told AFP, "Honestly, his political performance isn't that bad. He displays composure. He has an impossible job. He is caught between pressures from the Russians and the Americans."
The current confrontation with Moscow, placing Ukraine at the center of the most serious Russian-Western crisis since the end of the Cold War, represents a turning point in Zelensky's presidency. When he assumed the presidency in 2019, he promised to open channels of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the bloody conflict in the east, which has claimed over 14,000 lives so far. The two leaders held a summit in Paris a few months after Zelensky's election, which Putin praised as "an important step." However, Zelensky had a different opinion, stating, "My counterparts said it was a very good outcome from the first meeting. But, to be honest, it’s a very low result."
Since then, relations between the two presidents have continuously deteriorated. Putin accused Zelensky's government of "discrimination" against Russian speakers and abandoning previous promises to resolve the conflict in the east. As for the "dream," a word Zelensky used on February 14 regarding joining NATO one day, it seems increasingly elusive.
