And given his nonpolitical roots, one of the unlikeliest. In 4 years, Zelensky went from Jewish comic to Putin's enemy #1 Ms. Rudenko is a Ukrainian journalist and the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent. Volodymyr Zelensky: How Ukraine's president rose from actor to wartime 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. Positioning himself as the antithesis of Poroshenko, Zelensky ran in the presidential election as a populist politician who defends the interests of the people against the ruling class. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? 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. 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. How Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky Is Redefining Leadership for the World The Comedian-Turned-President Is Seriously in Over His Head, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/21/opinion/ukraine-russia-zelensky-putin.html. Climate Change, Hurricanes and US Security, Opinion: Churn in No. An interpreter translating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's The man now seen as the face of resistance to Russian military aggression voiced the Peruvian bear in the . The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. Pew: Americans give Zelensky highest approval rating of - Axios Local wins for local players What does all this mean for his ability to handle this crisis now in full swing with Russia? 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. Read more here about the study's findings and methodology. Zelensky approval rating 2022 | Statista Corruption just doesnt seem to worry Mr. Zelensky much at least when those implicated are close to him. I clomp over to the rink - kids, parents spinning, circling, wiping out. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Poll shows 98% Ukrainians believe in Ukraines victory, 91% approve of This is a striking turnaround for a leader who was previously seen as inexperienced and ineffective. I'm now getting lapped by 5-year-olds (laughter). The Servant of the People party, which won a majority in the parliamentary elections in 2019, as well as President Zelensky, initially exhibited signs of real commitment to their reformist platforms. Why didnt his obituaries say so? KELLY: Max does not think there will be a war with Russia. Yes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Did Voice Paddington, StudioCanal Confirms. He has. Accuracy and availability may vary. After his nearly three years in office, its clear what the problem is: Mr. Zelenskys tendency to treat everything like a show. "Here are some helpful resources to make sense of it all. Instead, he studied law. When Zelensky fails, they will think of him as the Jew and take revenge against the Jews, said Yevgeniy Romenovich, a Kyiv resident, said at the time. Its not just the media Mr. Zelensky struggles to work with. Facebook: quarterly number of MAU (monthly active users) worldwide 2008-2022, Quarterly smartphone market share worldwide by vendor 2009-2022, Number of apps available in leading app stores Q3 2022, Profit from additional features with an Employee Account. Zelensky declined to debate Poroshenko until two days before the second round of polling would begin, and that meeting had all the trappings of a sporting event. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky: Six Facts - Aish.com National parties did not enjoy as much support in 2020 Servant of the Peoples poor results were followed by similar ones for opposition parties. On Friday, he was equally blunt about his situation as Russian troops attacked the capital Kyiv: the the enemy has identified me as the No. Pew notes that this is a downturn since the start of his term, when that number was closer to 6 in 10 American adults. Use Ask Statista Research Service, Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). There are faint divides along partisan lines, with Democrats and Democrat-leaners slightly more likely than Republicans and Republican-leaners to have confidence in Zelenskyy (80% vs. 67%). But then he did just that. President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the members . That prompted some to speculate whether that could include Ukrainian Jews. The current war is not Zelenskys first experience as the center of international attention not long after being elected, he found himself ensnared in former President Donald Trumps first impeachment scandal, thanks to an infamous White House phone call. Nevertheless, these elections have also been influenced by the global coronavirus pandemic, as voter turnout was very low in comparison to previous local elections in 2015, mainly due to health concerns and a demoralised electorate. 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. The comic-turned-president surely never imagined the job would be quite so intense. And it has revealed him to be dispiritingly mediocre. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Zelensky's approval rating falls below 50%. By the numbers: Zelensky has a 72% positive confidence rating, with Americans voicing "some or a lot" of confidence in the Ukrainian President. Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky challenged by return of domestic President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, center, surely never imagined the job would get quite so intense. 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. his pre-World War II stints as French prime minister. This is a striking turnaround for a leader who was previously seen as inexperienced and ineffective. His approval rating is in the low 40s. That topic is acutely relevant in Ukraine, a post-Soviet republic with a large population of hypernationalists. J. Scott Applewhite /Pool/AFP via Getty Images That changed in the early hours of 24 February, before the invasion began, when the former comedian transformed himself into a resolute wartime leader by telling Russia that when you attack us you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces. Mr. Zelensky, stung by the fallout, came to largely rely on the loyal rather than the qualified. Approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fall amid Your conscience has been heard, and its been heard loudly, he said. The ideal entry-level account for individual users. Now, he is at the center of the continents most significant conflict since World War II, framing himself as a possible martyr on the world stage. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". ESTRIN: He's a comedian, and he's a TV star. KELLY: We don't have another one, she says. Since then, Zelensky has regularly taken to Twitter to address Ukrainians and the rest of the world, reminding everyone of what is at stake through videos and fiery tweets. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is speaking to Congress on Wednesday. What All rights reserved. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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 . Russian invasion transforms Zelensky | The Hill NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Within that group, 33% have the highest level of confidence in Zelenskyy's leadership abilities. That topic is acutely relevant in Ukraine, a post-Soviet republic with a large population of hypernationalists. And there are reports that dozens of others in government have connections to his TV company or his family. In March 2020, when his chief of staffs brother was caught offering government posts for money, Mr. Zelensky did nothing. VASYLCHUK: In my childhood in St. Petersburg. So Volodymyr Zelensky told the White House in late February, as it offered to evacuate him from a country under siege by Russia. MAX VASYLCHUK: I mean, in my childhood, I was a hockey player. Where President Zelensky's popularity stands with people in Ukraine We are defending Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/bgHyrsbVFs, Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 25, 2022. We walk into a small, heated tent, and they hand us skates. hide caption. His approval rating, despite starting at a high of 55 percent in January 2021, spent the year in freefall. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. [Graph], International Republican Institute, August 11, 2022. KELLY: A sampling of voices there from the skating rink next to Zelenskyy's office. Chart. Even the presidents beautiful newly built roads are mired in controversy. His supporters thought that he would break away from the old ways and end corruption. 33% of the 72% expressed a lot of confidence in Zelensky. We are in Kyiv. By the numbers: Zelensky has a 72% positive confidence rating, with Americans voicing "some or a lot" of confidence in the Ukrainian President. ", International Republican Institute, Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? The date range for these polls are from the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election to the present day. He's 42. Opinion | I did not vote for Volodymyr Zelensky. His courage has You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Who actually is Volodymyr Zelenskyy? 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. But if it did come to that, does he trust Zelenskyy to defend Ukraine? 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. ESTRIN: Yeah. While Bondarenko received the support of his regional counterparts, Zelensky gave the impression of disregarding local government authority, which has been strengthening since decentralisation reforms began in 2014. A brief history of corruption in Ukraine: the dawn of the Zelensky era ESTRIN: He says in this video, who likes it when the president appoints his best man or his friend from the army? 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. Hed still be likely to win, but the historic 73 percent he scored in the second round feels like a distant memory. After winning the. In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is an attempt to de-Nazify Ukraine. The current conflict is more than one country taking over another; it is in the words of one U.S. official a shift in "the world order. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky: The comedian president who is - BBC News There are currently nearly 250,000 people in Ukraine's armed forces, which are vastly outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's. 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. . 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, On Friday, he was equally blunt about his situation as Russian troops attacked the capital Kyiv: the the enemy has identified me as the No. February 28, 2022 / 2:06 PM / CBS News. And that Jewish identity has been repeatedly seized on by enemies and rivals, and celebrated by Jewish supporters around the world. His recent failure to gain the support of local districts further exhibits Zelensky and his partys decline and their inability to deliver meaningful political change in Ukraine. Russian invasion transforms Zelensky move than serious policy. they were proud to see their country after its history of anti-Jewish pogroms and Soviet-era persecution elect a Jewish president. (August 11, 2022). The Ukrainians surprised us all. The sentiment is shared nearly equally by Democrats and Republicans, even though Republicans have been much more likely to express confidence in Putin's leadership in recent years. Zelensky has not elaborated on the details of his Jewish upbringing, or his religiosity, but he also hasnt shied away from expressing an occasional message of Jewish pride and a strong sense of solidarity with Israel. You only have access to basic statistics. The statistic has been compiled from several reports by the source. Ukraine is a democracy. Volodymyr Zelensky was a Jewish comedian. Now the world's eyes are on The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Show sources information Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. 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. Although Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine's borders, Zelenskiy has repeatedly pushed back against warnings by the United States and other NATO allies that Russia could attack Ukraine at any moment. . International Republican Institute. Well, I met someone in the street the other day who seemed to sum up why people are critical of him. International Republican Institute. In the summer, it's a playground. Statista. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for selfies with voters. 2022. who seek to honor former Nazi collaborationists, through statues, marches and other tributes. All Rights Reserved. "Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?." 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. Fact check: False claim Ottawa '15-minute' neighborhoods plan will His approval rating was falling. "Do You Approve or Disapprove of The Actions of The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that these funds are extremely important, as they allow us to cover the unfunded part of the state budget and support the segments of the population that need it most. Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. Zelensky's approval ratings are continuing to rise. The crisis continues. 18 things to know about Volodymyr Zelensky - The Jerusalem Post 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. It may have proven too difficult to pull off after winning the 2019 election with over 70% of the vote, his approval rating had plummeted to close to 30%. The president's powers were constantly increasing, and, despite an expected decline in his popularity rating, Zelensky remained the most popular among Ukraine's most prominent politicians, especially those with presidential ambitions. Opinion: President Zelensky is a profile in courage | CNN but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. The show must go on, of course. His family is Jewish and, like many Ukrainian Jews, was scarred by the Holocaust. "The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state," Zelensky said. He beats the incumbent. Accessed March 04, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100076/volodymyr-zelensky-s-approval-rating-ukraine/. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [Online]. Despite his campaign promises, no progress has been made in fighting corruption. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. 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. Early in his tenure, Mr. Zelensky commanded more power than any of his predecessors had. (Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images), This fear from local Jews has persisted into the early days of the Russian invasion.