He's 42. That needs to change, The autonomous future is nearly here with Wejo, The need to grow Londons EV infrastructure at speed and scale, Covid cases in China are surging once more, The UK now spends more on housing benefit than on most government departments, The UK has one of the lowest rates of asylum applications in Europe, Energy bills could rise to 4,347 from April. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes questions at a press conference on April 23, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Driving the news: Zelensky has become a very vocal leader for his country after the latest unprovoked attack by Russia. 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. KELLY: He's the one you have. Yet Mr. Zelenskys behavior, odd to the point of erratic, obscures a truth: He has no good options. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A former actor used to the sound of applause, Mr. Zelensky is notoriously thin-skinned when it comes to criticism and challenging questions. The circle around the president has become an echo chamber. ESTRIN: He's a comedian, and he's a TV star. Gestures, for him, are more important than consequences. 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. 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. His family is Jewish and, like many Ukrainian Jews, was scarred by the Holocaust. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. So, in a way, who. 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. We are here. First round. No wonder 53 percent of Ukrainians think Mr. Zelensky wont be able to defend the country if there is an invasion. We are in Kyiv. . However, I spoke with Oleksiy Haran, who runs a think tank here. The Ukrainians surprised us all. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. KELLY: Wow. Russian President Vladimir Putin received dismal ratings, with only 6% of adults expressing confidence in him after Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine. He has. KYIV, Ukraine Its not hard to guess what President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine must be craving right now: one normal day. Throughout 2020 his approval rating steadily fell. who have a 91 per cent approval rating for Zelensky - want to be "liberated" by Russia. 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. He has. The show must go on, of course. . A young couple is holding hands. Boris Johnson was a close second on 90%, while US. KELLY: So that brings us to this moment. 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. By YURAS KARMANAU February 13, 2022. Zelensky won the election in a landslide. On 20 May, 2019 sworn in as the 6 th President of Ukraine. 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. Her name is Natalia Slastina, and she called the president zero. The very next day, he claimed Russia might invade Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's strategy for dealing with . Mr. Zelensky, stung by the fallout, came to largely rely on the loyal rather than the qualified. KELLY: He's good, she tells me, but she doesn't sound thrilled. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, center, surely never imagined the job would get quite so intense. 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. MAX VASYLCHUK: I mean, in my childhood, I was a hockey player. What they're saying: "In the month since the start of a bloody defensive war with Russia, Zelensky has mobilized Ukrainian forces to repel the invasion and urged Western powers the United States in particular to provide his country with more arms and aid," Pew said. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-ukrainians-think-about-the-war-russia-putin-invasion-zelensky-victory-results-approval-rating-11651868038. It reappears every winter. In 2019 the Verkhovnaya Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) passed an anti-corruption bill criminalising illegal state official enrichment practices. More than half of Ukrainians still . 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. KELLY: Yeah, but that's a really steep drop. An interpreter translating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech broke down on the air. By Afiq Fitri The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visits the front-line positions of the Ukrainian military in Donbas, Ukraine on 6 December 2021. International Republican Institute. Timeline of opinion polls in runup to the next Ukrainian presidential election, Opinion polling for the next Ukrainian presidential election, annexation of several southeastern Ukrainian oblasts, Opinion polling for the next Ukrainian parliamentary election, Opinion polling for the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election, Zelensky answered whether he would go for a second term, ": , ", "As it happened: Ukraine war latest: Resilience making Russia assess reality, negotiator says", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Ukrainian_presidential_election&oldid=1140803189, Articles with Ukrainian-language sources (uk), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 21:42. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. So he says right now, a lot of critics of Zelenskyy are saying with Russian troops at the borders, it's not the right time to call for Zelenskyy to resign. He also said he wanted to reach a compromise with President Putin of Russia, and he wanted to bring peace to the Donbas region of Ukraine, which Russian-backed separatists took control of in 2014. March 5, 2022. Climate Change, Hurricanes and US Security, Opinion: Churn in No. Moscow has denied any plans to invade Ukraine but has demand sweeping security guarantees from the West, including a promise that Kyiv can never join NATO. We are here. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And so that's the TV show, and then it happens in real life. "For instance, about two-thirds of Democrats voice confidence in Macron and Scholz, while only about four-in-ten Republicans say they have confidence in each European leader.". 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Police, security agencies advise Jews to be on alert ahead of planned National Day of Hate on Shabbat, 10 months into leadership crisis, fighting has renewed over German rabbinical schools future, Albania to build museum to citizens who saved Jews during Holocaust, As European nations celebrate their past, a US Holocaust envoy reminds them of its darker corners, Israels chief Ashkenazi rabbi visits Taiwan in milestone moment for the countrys Jewish community, 80 years later, Thessalonikis documentary film festival to pay tribute to deported Jews, Wikipedias Supreme Court tackles alleged conspiracy to distort articles on Holocaust, Connecticut College students are in revolt after presidents planned talk at Florida club with antisemitic and racist past, March comes in with a roar of new Yiddish music, Converting to Judaism has defined my high school experience, The Jewish Sport Report: Your guide to Team Israel and the World Baseball Classic. I understand. In the run up to the 2024 Ukrainian presidential election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention in Ukraine. 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. Early in his tenure, Mr. Zelensky commanded more power than any of his predecessors had. People who think the country is . His outburst is full of expletives. Joe Biden approval: Volodymyr Zelensky is currently the world's most iconic leader . Zelensky's current level of support is higher than it's ever been since Ratings Sociological Group started polling Ukrainians about the president in May of 2019. And the heroic figure at the center of this war is none other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And in the show, this video goes viral. Americans are more divided over Biden's handling of international affairs, with 48% saying they have confidence in this area and 52% having either not too much or none at all. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a former actor-comedian now leading his country's defense against Russian invaders, says he does not shield his children from the horrors of war . 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. 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 . In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is an attempt to de-Nazify Ukraine. Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. So that has led to our showing up at this ice skating rink. Support 100 years of independent journalism. 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 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.. 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. 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. The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. But Ukrainians have little confidence that Zelenskyy can ensure that stability. Use Ask Statista Research Service, Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Meanwhile, the data show that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is held in higher esteem than ever among Americans, 60 per cent of whom view him somewhat or very favourably. I'm now getting lapped by 5-year-olds (laughter). He says you can hear people criticizing the president in the streets, you know, even sometimes in the skating rink. After winning the. So did Leon Blum, who faced antisemitic animus in. Volodymyr Zelensky has become a hit across the world . Weve had political figures who are deeply aligned with the Jewish community and use that as a jumping off point for political power. Zelensky's approval rating falls below 50%. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 war is still going. That's been happening in Ukraine for years. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. (2022). 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. Who actually is Volodymyr Zelenskyy? ( 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. Email. 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. Published Feb. 3, 2020. 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. 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. Scandals and tolerance for corruption have chipped away at Mr. Zelenskys popularity. 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. That topic is acutely relevant in Ukraine, a post-Soviet republic with a large population of hypernationalists. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Copyright 2022 NPR. Zelensky's approval ratings are continuing to rise. We are defending Ukraine, Zelensky said. ESTRIN: And he rises to stardom in this show, and he's elected to president because, you know, everyone sees this video. Ukraine is a democracy. NBC News reports a senior Department of State official said the U.S. will reopen. So that was one promise he didn't keep, and the other promise Zelenskyy made was that he was going to talk with Putin and find a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian territories that Russia exerts control over. He's young - 44 years old - Ukraine's first Jewish president. He is visibly irritated by traditional journalists: In November, this fractious approach led to unseemly confrontations at a news conference. 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 . The claim: '15-minute city' planned in Ottawa will confine residents. First, he got tangled up in the impeachment of Donald Trump. This time last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea Russia would invade. And Mr. Zelensky, a comedian for most of his life, is in over his head. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Zelenskyy and the German . 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. In June 2022, over 90 percent of the Ukrainian population approved of the activities of Volodymyr Zelensky as the president of the country. The latest. But then he did just that. 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. 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. National parties did not enjoy as much support in 2020 Servant of the Peoples poor results were followed by similar ones for opposition parties. The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. In a letter to the United Nations last weekend, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. wrote that intelligence suggests Russia could target religious and ethnic minorities, along with anti-Putin activists and other groups, in the aftermath of an invasion. Several results stand out. 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. Any decisive move against Russia, on the other hand, risks giving the Kremlin a pretext for a deadly invasion. [1] In May 2021, Zelenskyy stated that it was too early to say whether he will run for a second term, but this decision would depend on the attitude to him in society and would be influenced by his family.[1]. The approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen down amid conflict with Russia. It is beautiful even if my skating is not. [Online]. Russia, of course, has been waging a war in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Now, Zelenskyy's critics claim there's a reason he did that - to prevent people from protesting in front of his office, though that did not stop demonstrators from marching through the playground earlier this year. 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. We are in Kyiv. 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. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. [Graph]. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. The results of such polls are displayed in this article. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. He won the Ukrainian equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. This ambiguity and lack of direction or concrete results have led to a drop of approval for both Zelensky and Servant of the People, with criticism from pro-Kremlin and pro-Western powers alike. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But despite such dwindling numbers, he remains the most popular Ukrainian politician with support across Ukraine and a strong chance of re-election. He came under pressure for essentially not showing the right kind of reverence or respect for Israel that I think some members of the Jewish community wanted him to, Berman said. Zelensky struggled as president, facing intense criticism, making major gaffes, and watching his approval ratings plummet. (August 11, 2022). Boryana Saragerova received a MA in Terrorism, Security & Society from Kings College London. Pew found Zelensky most popular among older peoplewith an 86% confidence rate among people age 65 and older, compared to 63% among people age 18-29and more educated peoplewith an 82%. 'I promise, I will never let you down' Cooperation rather than competition between local actors and the central government, an end to the war in Donbass, as well as land, infrastructure and anti-corruption reforms are sorely needed for the future prosperity of Ukraine. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. In the summer, it's a playground. 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. Snow is pelting down. Currently, you are using a shared account. Please do not hesitate to contact me. In the midst of the nationwide lockdown in Ukraine, Zelensky openly confronted Anatoly Bondarenko, the mayor of Cherkasy, who defied orders and re-opened restaurants and ships in the town. In fact, almost half of Americans ages 65 and older have a lot of confidence in Zelenskyy, compared with 28% of adults under 30. Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. His government was pursuing a political rival on treason . The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. But in times of national emergency, true leaders rise to the occasion. 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. His approval rating was falling. (Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images). Ukraine president's ratings fall as crisis with Russia brews. 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. his pre-World War II stints as French prime minister. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Local wins for local players The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. Furthermore, questions about his Jewishness have exploded into the international consciousness: Has his Jewish background put him or his fellow Ukrainian Jews in more danger? PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (As Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, speaking Russian). Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. 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. A Jan. 19 Facebook post ( direct link, archived link) features a screenshot of a tweet that includes a photo of a sign with the words "15-minute city" written on it. 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. his domestic approval ratings were tanked . Yes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Did Voice Paddington, StudioCanal Confirms. 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 an interview he gave in 2018. The procurement process is thought to be rigged and the prices too high. 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. Mr. Zelenskys other major project, a campaign he calls deoligarchization thats aimed at capping the influence of the very wealthy, looks more like a P.R. Pew notes that this is a downturn since the start of his term, when that number was closer to 6 in 10 American adults. There are currently nearly 250,000 people in Ukraine's armed forces, which are vastly outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's. Today, Zelensky commands a 96% approval rating in Ukraine and Ms. McGuffie, like many Ukrainians, is enthusiastically backing their president. INA KULIG: (Non-English language spoken). KELLY: We don't have another one, she says. 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. ESTRIN: And in the TV show, he plays an ordinary guy, a schoolteacher who has an outburst against corruption in Ukraine. By the time Zelensky joined the Servant of the People series in 2015, he was one of Ukraines most famous pop culture figures. "Do You Approve or Disapprove of The Actions of The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?. 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. You only have access to basic statistics. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: Zero, zero, zero. But Ukrainians have little confidence that Zelenskyy can ensure that stability. KELLY: Max does not think there will be a war with Russia. 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. Ukraines next parliamentary election will be held in 2023 and all opinion polls show that the ruling pro-presidential Servant of the People party may lose control of parliament. Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY suffered a "huge political blow" as he faced being ousted before the Russian invasion, a Ukrainian political expert has told Express.co.uk. A political novice who unexpectedly came to power with a landslide victory in the 2019 presidential election, Zelensky vowed to ensure economic prosperity, anti-corruption reforms and a quick resolution to the war in Donbass. Now, he is at. But many were also worried that if he failed to follow through on the many ambitious promises that boosted him to a sweeping electoral victory reforming a corrupt political system, standing up to Russia, restoring general confidence in government that angry citizens could blame his Jewishness. He appointed Andriy Yermak as head of the Presidential Administration, who has alleged connections to Russia. but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. But the presidents performance strained, awkward, often inappropriate is hardly helping. President Zelenskys Servant of the People party suffered significant setbacks in the 2020 Ukrainian local elections, manifesting the decline of Zelenskys popularity and the nations waning trust in the ruling government. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1997-2003 - Actor, performer, script writer, producer of the stand-up comedy contest team . We've been told that because of the location, this is a place where Zelenskyy supporters like to come skate. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty Images. 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. Accuracy and availability may vary. Others said he was an oligarch puppet. Kliment Ohridski. Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) is the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian news site. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. 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. : Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians and host of . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: If the person was born to be a politician, yeah, it's OK. 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. Zelensky's brave response has made me reconsider. hide caption. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law in the view of Russia targeting its military infrastructure. 1 target, he said in a video message, and his family is the No. ESTRIN: He made a lot of promises that people really wanted to hear. Read more here about the study's findings and methodology. By Alexander Query. What does all this mean for his ability to handle this crisis now in full swing with Russia? Despite his campaign promises, no progress has been made in fighting corruption. 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%). Do the public support the nurses strike? 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. 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. But now, when Ukraine is menaced by Russia, it may be affecting Mr. Zelenskys judgment. When the US reportedly offered to evacuate him as the Russian military advanced through Ukraine, Zelensky refused to leave Kyiv and declared: I need ammunition, not a ride.. 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 .