Interestingly, Volodymyr Zelensky has an unconventional background he wasn't familiar with the world of politics before he was elected the president of Ukraine in 2019. According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zelensky's approval rating as president dropped from 33.3 percent in September to 24.7 percent in October, separated from Poroshenko's approval rating by fewer than ten percentage points. He appointed Andriy Yermak as head of the Presidential Administration, who has alleged connections to Russia. Read more here about the study's findings and methodology. Zelensky, falling short of providing Ukraine with the vigorous reformist policy he promised in his presidential campaign, has been gradually losing support from the public, threatening his and his partys future in Ukrainian politics. There are currently nearly 250,000 people in Ukraine's armed forces, which are vastly outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become the face of his country's spirited defense against Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned around his domestic political fortunes with his leadership over the past few weeks, earning the support of an overwhelming majority of the country . Show publisher information A fleece jacket worn and signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sold for 90,000, or around $111,000, at a fundraiser for Ukraine in London on Thursday. Jonathan Sarna, a professor at Brandeis University and one of the foremost historians on Jewish history, said that whatever the outcome, Zelensky could end up in a pretty singular place in the history books. Well, I met someone in the street the other day who seemed to sum up why people are critical of him. Afiq Fitri is a data journalist at New Statesman Media Group. [Graph]. The poll found 24 percent of <30 adults saying they don't know about Zelensky vs. 9 percent of seniors; still, 23 percent of those under 30 rated Zelensky unfavorably vs. 9 percent of seniors.. 2000 - Graduated from Kyiv National Economic University, with a law degree. Instead of being comforted, the country was confused. Towering over us is the office of President Zelenskyy. Illustration by Joo Fazenda. Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. An interpreter translating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech broke down on the air. Two days after the invasion began, he personally thanked the thousands of Russian anti-war protesters who defied their authorities and took to the streets. The security service is overseen by a childhood friend, a former corporate lawyer, and the presidents party in Parliament is run by a loyal former I.T. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes questions at a press conference on April 23, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Yet Mr. Zelenskys behavior, odd to the point of erratic, obscures a truth: He has no good options. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his advisers have been arguing in recent days that they don't want to cede any territory to Russia in the . but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. I understand. Halfway through his presidential term, the popularity of Volodymyr Zelenskyy has substantially declined as, having won 70 per cent of the vote when elected, he now only commands 25 per cent support at the ballot box. Therefore, the 2020 local elections were a chance not only for Servant of the People to expand its political influence, but also for Zelensky to handle future local disobedience. But despite such dwindling numbers, he remains the most popular Ukrainian politician with support across Ukraine and a strong chance of re-election. It was typical of the same tensions, she said, that a decade or so earlier had assailed John F. Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his iconic green T-shirt have become recognizable figures on the world stage in the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. He won the Ukrainian equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. DNIPRO, Ukraine When Volodymyr Zelensky, the Jewish comedian recently elected the president of Ukraine, announced that he was running, the chief rabbi for the eastern Ukrainian region where Mr . After winning the election as a political novice with 73% of the vote, Mr. Zelenskys public approval rating had fallen to only 25% last October. : Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians and host of . But the successes largely stopped there. She has worked on a diverse set of topics from the prevention of religion-motivated violence in Bangladesh, during the 64th International Student Conference in Tokyo, Japan to bilateral and multilateral relations in South-Eastern Europe during her internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. Russia, of course, has been waging a war in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The front door is - I don't know - 20, 25 feet from this ice skating rink, which is now filling up with kids. By YURAS KARMANAU February 13, 2022. If the EU could speak, what would it say? 2 target. It reappears every winter. . ", (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE"). Older Americans are much more likely to hold those views than younger generations, as are those with more education (especially postgraduate degrees). The translator was heard pausing and choking up while conveying Zelensky's words. After winning the. And he falls, I think, in the second category, but its not such a long list, and its certainly not that not long in Eastern Europe, he said. His supporters thought that he would break away from the old ways and end corruption. Gestures, for him, are more important than consequences. National parties did not enjoy as much support in 2020 Servant of the Peoples poor results were followed by similar ones for opposition parties. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. Why did people vote for him so overwhelmingly? Photo: J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty Images. He says you can hear people criticizing the president in the streets, you know, even sometimes in the skating rink. [Online]. 1997-2003 - Actor, performer, script writer, producer of the stand-up comedy contest team . ESTRIN: He made a lot of promises that people really wanted to hear. More than half of Americans have confidence in Macron and Scholz, while ratings for the Chinese leader remain unchanged from the past year at 15%. There were constant reshuffles. 1 target,, Over the course of a few years, Zelensky who is the first-ever Jewish president of, Ukraine, a country with a long and complicated Jewish history. All Rights Reserved. Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. Only 28.2% of Ukrainians approve of President Volodymyr Zelensky's performance, . She recalled Henry Kissinger, President Richard Nixons secretary of state, who faced pressure from some Republicans who wondered if he could be impartial during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and from some American Jews who feared Kissinger was distancing himself from Israel because of those pressures. More than half of Ukrainians still . Zelinsky initially made his name in Ukraine as a comic actor portraying on television a teacher who inadvertently becomes president after railing against corruption. move than serious policy. My interpreter and I skate up to a mom with a small boy in tow. Now, if you are wondering why I am lacing up ice skates today, the answer is look up at that building right in front of me. Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The circle around the president has become an echo chamber. And 70% of the vote - those are not numbers to sniff at. ESTRIN: Yeah. Three-quarters of Democrats and Democrat-leaners say they have confidence in Biden's international abilities, compared to just 16% of Republicans and Republican-leaners. There are vocal opposition parties here. He is visibly irritated by traditional journalists: In. Along the way, he married a high school classmate, with whom he has two children, a 17-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. His outburst is full of expletives. It's an imperfect democracy, but it is a democracy. The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. Volodymyr Zelensky was born January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city in eastern Ukraine. We are here. I point to the building next to us and ask her, what does she think of the president? As Servant of the Peoples majority erodes in the Verkhovnaya Rada and there is a possibility that the opposition will call for new parliamentary elections, Zelenskys position as Ukraines powerbroker will continue to be challenged. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some 92% of Americans have little or no confidence in the Russian leader's handling of world affairs, while 77% have none at all. The study also found that 71.1% of Ukrainians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, an increase from the 68.7% in July. And it's low, but, you know, just like that skater you met today, people don't really see an alternative. The presidents tense relationship with the press doesnt help, either. In 2019, several Ukrainian Jews told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that they were proud to see their country after its history of anti-Jewish pogroms and Soviet-era persecution elect a Jewish president. (JTA) Four years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was an actor on the humorous Ukrainian TV show Servant of the People, starring as an unlikely president of the Eastern European country. and whose brief term post-war was seen as a step forward for Frances coming to terms with its Nazi collaborationism. Forty years later, his grandson became president. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected President of Ukraine on April 21, 2019. Notably, Zelenskyy's domestic approval rating had dropped in the leadup to Russia's invasion, but a poll from inside Ukraine shows it has risen sharply in recent weeks. According to Transparency International, Ukraine remains the third-most-corrupt country in Europe, after Russia and Azerbaijan. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. It's also about three times. Instead, he studied law. Zelensky. Zelenskys ambitions appear to be colliding with his populist rhetoric, while his willingness to succumb to pressure from oligarchs is gradually losing him the trust of Ukrainians and the West. The partys rating has fallen to 28 percent, while 56 percent of the Ukrainian public is dissatisfied with Zelensky, although both still have higher ratings than the opposition. KYIV, Ukraine Its not hard to guess what President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine must be craving right now: one normal day. The procurement process is thought to be rigged and the prices too high. Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header. Hed still be likely to win, but the historic 73 percent he scored in the second round feels like a distant memory. First round. The television star-turned-wartime president has used social media to boost his country's morale and won standing ovations at virtual addresses to governments around the world. We walk into a small, heated tent, and they hand us skates. JTA Four years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was an actor on the humorous Ukrainian TV show "Servant of the People," starring as an unlikely president of the Eastern European country. Another poll released last week showed the president receiving a higher approval rating 47 percent following his first address to the nation, compared to 39 percent in February. volodymyr zelensky; vladimir putin; More + Comments Leave a Comment. Photograph:(AFP), War zone: Ukraine's US-made Javelin anti-tank missile vs Russian T-72 beasts. Not only did the President lose the popularity test to local strongmen, but he also failed to handle tensions between the central government and local government officials. The Comedian-Turned-President Is Seriously in Over His Head, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/21/opinion/ukraine-russia-zelensky-putin.html. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. Servant of the Peoples declining popularity has contrasted with the success of its mayoral counterparts in the recent local elections, where 661 independent candidates won mandates in comparison to the 225 gained by Zelenskys party. Furthermore, although he did not achieve a breakthrough in negotiations with Russia during the 2019 Normandy Summit, President Zelensky succeeded in securing a large prisoner exchange with the Kremlin, as well as another ceasefire agreement. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In addition, Zelenskys party, which initially voted with reformist parties such as Holos and Petro Poroshenkos European Solidarity, has recently voted against reforms with OPFL. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Around 7 in 10 Americans (72%) have a lot or some confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, higher than any other international leader recorded, a new Pew Research survey found. That didn't happen. That prompted some to speculate whether that could include Ukrainian Jews. He survived World War II contributing to the victory over Nazism and hateful ideology. President Volodymyr Zelensky listens during a joint press conference with the Lithuanian president (unseen) after talks at the presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania on Nov. 27, 2019. Over the course of a few years, Zelensky who is the first-ever Jewish president of Ukraine, a country with a long and complicated Jewish history has quickly become one of the most consequential and prominent Jewish world leaders in recent decades. The very next day, he claimed Russia might invade Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. ( JTA) Four years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was an actor on the humorous Ukrainian TV show "Servant of the People," starring as an unlikely president of the Eastern European country. I'm now getting lapped by 5-year-olds (laughter). A former actor used to the sound of applause, Mr. Zelensky is notoriously thin-skinned when it comes to criticism and challenging questions. The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. But now, when Ukraine is menaced by Russia, it may be affecting Mr. Zelenskys judgment. COVID-19 deaths worldwide as of February 28, 2023, by country and territory, COVID-19 cases worldwide as of February 28, 2023, by country or territory, Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, recoveries, and deaths worldwide as of Feb. 28, 2023, Cumulative cases of COVID-19 worldwide from Jan. 22, 2020 to Feb. 26, 2023, by day. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Boryana specialises in international affairs, and political instability and international security, namely terrorism and extremism, insurgencies, regional and global conflicts and has expertise in Public and Private International Law. At that point, Zelensky enjoyed a 70 percent approval rating and Ukraine had the youngest president in its history (41-years-old), the youngest parliament (average age of 41), the youngest prime minister (35) and the youngest cabinet in Europe (average age of 39). Chart. Your conscience has been heard, and its been heard loudly, he said. Weve had political figures who are deeply aligned with the Jewish community and use that as a jumping off point for political power. Currently, you are using a shared account. Snow is pelting down. Others said he was an oligarch puppet. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. His fame and anti-establishment allure landed him with a parliamentary majority, a handpicked cabinet and a mandate for reform. KELLY: He's the one you have. has quickly become one of the most consequential and prominent Jewish world leaders in recent decades. His opponents said he was so inexperienced, he was bound to be a disaster. Her name is Natalia Slastina, and she called the president zero. By Charlie Smith 05:51, Fri, May 13 . WASHINGTON ( The Borowitz Report )In a development that could upend American politics, Volodymyr Zelensky has emerged as the front-runner in the 2024 U.S. Presidential contest . Distribution and use of this material are governed by This might be the last time you see me alive, he reportedly told European Union leaders on a call about steps the bloc was considering to try to stop Russias advances throughout Ukraine. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. His first year in charge was chaotic. 9. Zelensky has also allegedly experienced pressure from Ukrainian oligarchs such as Ihor Kolomoisky, who owns the TV channel that aired his show, and who strives to regain control over the now nationalised PrivatBank, the largest retail bank in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskys ambitions of achieving radical change in Ukraine seem to be overshadowed by his attempt to balance different interest groups in the country, in the face of socioeconomic uncertainty and a distrustful nation. During the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election candidate (and latter winner of the election) Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was running for only one term. BBC News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian who had no experience of politics when elected less than three years ago, has suddenly emerged as a convincing war leader. "The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state," Zelensky said. When Mr. Zelensky took power in Ukraine in 2019, converting his TV fame into a stellar political career, no one knew what to expect. At the time, Zelensky had the approval of 29.3% of respondents and the disapproval of 56.1%. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". And why is, After high school, Zelensky earned a scholarship to study in Israel on the strength of his English scores but turned it down because his father did not want him to go, according to. I'm about to lace up skates, and we'll tell you why. Then he had to deal with the Covid pandemic. His government opened up the farmland market and expanded digital services across the country. KELLY: We don't have another one, she says. The senior researcher at the Museum of the Holocaust in Odessa, a city that was over a third Jewish in the 19th century, told The New York Times he was worried that antisemitism would be unleashed by the chaos of war., In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is, Other historical figures whose Jewishness featured large in their national leadership include Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th-century British prime minister who was faced unrelenting antisemitism. Survey characteristics refer to the latest survey, which was conducted throughout Ukraine excluding territories of Crimea and Donbas not controlled by the government. And the heroic figure at the center of this war is none other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. Hey there. Driving the news: Zelensky has become a very vocal leader for his country after the latest unprovoked attack by Russia. Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. And given his nonpolitical roots, one of the unlikeliest. His family is Jewish and, like many Ukrainian Jews, was scarred by the Holocaust. How can I be a Nazi? Zelensky said Thursday, without specifically mentioning his Jewishness. First, President Volodymyr Zelensky commands a 94% approval rating. Initial indications of progress were overshadowed by Zelenskys decision to replace the reformist ministerial cabinet and other critical state officials with controversial figures in March 2020. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. He has. That's been happening in Ukraine for years. Please do not hesitate to contact me. This would complicate Zelenskyys ambitions for another term in 2024, so the political landscape could change drastically. Thanks to an unprecedented effort from the International Republican Institute to conduct a nationwide poll of Ukraine during a time of war, we now know what its people think about the conflict, their leadership and the future of their country. And yet, he says, everyone realizes that Russia wants to take advantage of Zelenskyy's lower approval ratings right now to weaken him with this threat of an invasion. A weekly round-up of some of the best articles featured in the most recent issue of the New Statesman, sent each Saturday. Early in his tenure, Mr. Zelensky commanded more power than any of his predecessors had. After taking the Ukrainian political stage by storm, President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Servant of the People party faced off and lost to mayoral parties in the October 2020 local elections.