Who do you think the most inspirational national leader is? When it comes to dead leaders, it’s easy enough to focus on legends such as George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Notably, though, these icons died out centuries ago, and it is often difficult to find a modern leader who embodies their pioneering spirit and ability to overcome great adversity.
There is one modern leader who has those traits, though, and he’s not American…in fact, he’s a beleaguered leader who must now contend with the possibility of losing American aid for his war-torn country. We’re talking about the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,a man whose wild career has taken him from entertainment to politics to war.
Just how did a former comedian become the most inspirational living leader in the modern world? What shaped him into who he is now, and what’s next for this hero of the people? Keep reading to find out!
Zelenskyy’s history as a comedian
Since Donald Trump was re-elected president of the United States, he has had a contentious relationship with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That’s because Trump, like many Republicans, is interested in reducing or even ending American aid to Ukraine to help them fight off invading Russians. What’s ironic about this beef, though, is that Trump has far more in common with Zelenskyy than most people realize.
Like Trump, Zelenskyy had no experience in politics before he was elected president of Ukraine. And like Trump, Zelenskyy was known primarily for his skills as an entertainer. When elected for his first term as US president, Trump was most famous for hosting the TV show The Apprentice. As for Zelenskyy, he was most famous for starring in a TV show where he played (ironically enough) a former school teacher turned president!
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Getting elected and proving the haters wrong
Because Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no previous experience as a politician, many were nervous about what kind of leader he would be. For example, some critics thought the comedian running for office was doing some kind of bizarre prank. However, nobody was laughing, and Zelenskyy won the presidency with a staggering 73% of the vote.
Additionally, because the oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky backed Zelenskyy’s campaign, some feared the newly elected president would be somebody else’s puppet. Zelenskyy, however, soon proved to be his own man, an utterly invaluable quality once his country was invaded by Russia.
Rallying the globe in support of Ukraine
War was the last thing Volodymyr Zelenskyy thought he would have to deal with when he initially ran for office. He wanted to fight corruption and ensure that East Ukraine was as peaceful as possible. However, in February 2022, the unthinkable happened: Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Previously, Zelenskyy had continued to pursue diplomatic solutions with the other country. The invasion delivered a message on the part of Vladimir Putin: that he wanted war, not peace.
At the time, few thought the comedian-turned-president would be ready to handle an event as frightening as this one. But Zelenskyy rallied to the occasion, memorably telling Russia, “When you attack usm you will see our faces–not our backs, but our faces.” Eventually, he donned his now-familiar military fatigues and issued a warning for other countries: if you don’t help Ukraine fight Russia, “war will knock on your doors.”
His rhetoric was effective, and Zelenskyy had soon united much of the world in support of Ukraine. This included President Joe Biden, but the Ukrainian leader had no way of knowing how temporary America’s support would prove to be.
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Changing presidents and changing support
By all accounts, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a solid relationship with Joe Biden. At the very least, Ukraine was able to rely on military assistance from America in the fight against Russia. As for the United States, helping Ukraine seemed only natural, especially after America spent decades of the Cold War trying to limit Russia’s global influence.
This support changed once Donald Trump was re-elected as US president. Trump has threatened to stop aiding Ukraine and even echoed Russian rhetoric in calling Zelenskyy a “dictator.” As for Zelenskyy, he didn’t mince words either, calling Trump someone who helped Vladimir Putin “break out of years of isolation” and saying that Trump himself resides in “a Russian disinformation space.”
Zelenskyy remains a hero of the people
During Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s term as president, much has changed. The battle with Russia changes constantly, for example, as does the list of leaders the Ukrainian leader can rely on. One thing hasn’t changed, though, and that is that Zelenskyy remains a hero to Ukraine and beyond.
According to popularity polling, the majority of Ukrainians continue to support Zelenskyy’s leadership. And despite inflammatory comments from Donald Trump and others, many American citizens and politicians continue to support this leader for a simple reason: his dedication to his people. In an age when so many politicians are dedicated only to personal profit, we can’t help but admire someone who stepped up to personally lead his people out of the darkness of war and into the light of peace.
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