The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Zelensky won the election in a landslide. (2022). In, International Republican Institute. ESTRIN: He's a comedian, and he's a TV star. Volodymyr Zelensky Plays Himself - The Atlantic No wonder 53 percent of Ukrainians think Mr. Zelensky wont be able to defend the country if there is an invasion. In March 2020, when his chief of staffs brother was caught offering government posts for money, Mr. Zelensky did nothing. KELLY: He's good, she tells me, but she doesn't sound thrilled. KELLY: Max does not think there will be a war with Russia. Zelensky was born in a Russian-speaking area of eastern Ukraine to Jewish parents, a mother who was an engineer and a father who is a computer scientist. KELLY: He's the one you have. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. He's 42. Zelensky's brave response has made me reconsider. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100076/volodymyr-zelensky-s-approval-rating-ukraine/. As we have been out and about here in the Ukrainian capital, we have met a lot of people who have a lot of not particularly nice things to say about the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelensky has toed a line between projecting a strong patriotic front against Russia, and working to delicately stand up to the nationalists who seek to honor former Nazi collaborationists, through statues, marches and other tributes. 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.. VASYLCHUK: I'm Ukrainian, but (unintelligible) the entire country USSR - former USSR now. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. 18 things to know about Volodymyr Zelensky - The Jerusalem Post The approval rating saw a decrease compared to. 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. Anyone can read what you share. So did Leon Blum, who faced antisemitic animus in his pre-World War II stints as French prime minister, and whose brief term post-war was seen as a step forward for Frances coming to terms with its Nazi collaborationism. 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. That's the name of his TV show - so fictional president becomes real president. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. Copyright 2022 NPR. Mr. Zelensky, stung by the fallout, came to largely rely on the loyal rather than the qualified. But from showbiz, it's hard. they were proud to see their country after its history of anti-Jewish pogroms and Soviet-era persecution elect a Jewish president. What does all this mean for his ability to handle this crisis now in full swing with Russia? And today he stands before you, Zelensky said in a speech during a January 2020 presidential trip to Israel, where he appeared with then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Has it contributed to the conflict in any way? In the run up to the 2024 Ukrainian presidential election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention in Ukraine. As the West pursued megaphone diplomacy to discourage an invasion, Mr. Zelensky tried to downplay the threat. India Dot Com Private Limited. Ukraines Zelensky posts a new video of himself and his team outside the presidential administration in Kyivs government quarter after rumors in Russian media that hed fled. Ukraines gross domestic product grew by 3.5 percent last year, while anti-corruption efforts appeared to be a priority for the new ruling elite. 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. I mean, he is Ukrainian in all of his heart, but hes also Jewish.. Of course, if hes martyred and there are certainly reports that there are agents of the Russian regime who would like either to capture or assassinate him I think his Jewishness will certainly be noted, Sarna said. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky: The comedian president who is - BBC his pre-World War II stints as French prime minister. The words he uses dont matter, as long as they are entertaining. 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. his domestic approval ratings were tanked . Sign up for JTAs Around the World newsletter. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Chart. Zelensky, an entertainer-turned-politician, saw his approval ratings steadily decline since his election in 2019, continuing a string of displeasure with leadership within Ukraine over issues like . But then he did just that. But this understandable effort to project calm and steady skittish markets was undermined by his showy style. His new ministers are also rumored to have ties with former Ukrainian President Yanukovych, whose decision to suspend implementation of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU led to the 2013-2014 Euromaidan revolution, and Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform-for Life (OPFL). Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. Emmanuel Macron is right to want to return African art to Africa, The rise of Elly Schlein, the new left-wing leader of the Italian Democrats, Universal Credit falls short of covering the bare essentials. 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. Volodymyr Zelensky's biography - Official website of the President of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking to Congress on Wednesday. What Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is an attempt to de-Nazify Ukraine. Read more here about the study's findings and methodology. Opinion | I did not vote for Volodymyr Zelensky. His courage has When Mr. Zelensky took power in Ukraine in 2019, converting his TV fame into a stellar political career, no one knew what to expect. businessman. move than serious policy. West should have helped Ukraine in 2014, Zelenskyy tells Davos - CNBC 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. but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. When .css-1h1us5y-StyledLink{color:var(--interactive-text-color);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1h1us5y-StyledLink:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, nearly every international observer expected a Russian victory within days or at most a few weeks. who have a 91 per cent approval rating for Zelensky - want to be "liberated" by Russia. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. His fathers father, Semyon, served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II; Semyons father and brothers were all murdered in the Holocaust. Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header. That said, he seems to have embraced his new role without hesitation. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (As Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, speaking Russian). 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. 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. In 2019, several Ukrainian Jews told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that. A noteworthy feature of the elections was Ukraines well-functioning democracy, as local incumbents secured their posts and only a few won their mandates without run-offs. Ukraine's Zelenskyy: Comedian to national hero - DW - 02/26/2022 The results of such polls are displayed in this article. 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. The war is still going. KELLY: NPR's Daniel Estrin, so glad you were here helping to tell this story. The claim: '15-minute city' planned in Ottawa will confine residents. The reforms give local leaders the power to handle budgets, investment and taxes more freely and are seen as one of the most successful democratic outcomes of the Euromaidan revolution. 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. His outburst is full of expletives. Ms. Rudenko is a Ukrainian journalist and the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. 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. Towering over us is the office of President Zelenskyy. By YURAS KARMANAU February 13, 2022. According to Transparency International, Ukraine remains the third-most-corrupt country in Europe, after Russia and Azerbaijan. He won the Ukrainian equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. His approval rating, despite starting at a high of 55 percent in January 2021, spent the year in freefall. The survey also took Americans' temperatures on other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 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. MAX VASYLCHUK: I mean, in my childhood, I was a hockey player. . Opinion: President Zelensky is a profile in courage | CNN Some 72% of Americans have either some or a lot of confidence in Zelenskyy to do the right thing regarding international affairs, according to the Pew Research Center a much higher number than for other world leaders, including U.S. President Biden. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. It's also about three times. He gets more than 70% of the vote. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was seen by many as a comic actor who stumbled into the presidency. He beats the incumbent. Kliment Ohridski. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Did Voice Paddington - The Volodymyr Zelensky has become the epitome of an unlikely hero . International Republican Institute. 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. 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. 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). Russia, of course, has been waging a war in eastern Ukraine since 2014. That didn't happen. 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. And it has revealed him to be dispiritingly mediocre. From Chaplin to Churchill: How Volodymyr Zelensky became savior of Ukraine Climate Change, Hurricanes and US Security, Opinion: Churn in No. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) is the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian news site. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for selfies with voters. Currently, you are using a shared account. Of note: Putin not only has the lowest recorded rating on the survey, he has "an all-time low in surveys going back nearly two decades," per Pew. The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state, Zelensky said. 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%. His approval rating was falling. (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. Zelenskyy and the German . VASYLCHUK: In my childhood in St. Petersburg. I point to the building next to us and ask her, what does she think of the president? According to opinion polls, the 44-year-old has performed poorly on the domestic political stage since his election three years ago but the jury is still out on his response to Russia's recent aggression. The show must go on, of course. The New Statesmans weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises - in your inbox every Thursday. Volodymyr Zelensky was born January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city in eastern Ukraine. 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. Well, I met someone in the street the other day who seemed to sum up why people are critical of him. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the U.S. Congress on March 16. Now, he is at. 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.