Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is actively seeking support from Western allies for his “Victory Plan”, which aims to end the ongoing war with Russia. At the heart of this plan is Ukraine’s desire to become the 33rd member of NATO with continued arms shipments for security guarantees. The primary goal is to strengthen the nation and facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022.
“Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons and that will be our security or we must form some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, today we do not know of any effective alliance,” Zelensky said at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. “
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a strong warning. “Any step in this direction will provoke an adequate response,” he said, claiming that Russia would not allow such a development “under any circumstances.”
Zelensky later clarified his remarks during a joint press conference with NATO chief Mark Rutte. He said, “We are not making nuclear weapons. What I mean to say is that today there is no guarantee of stronger security for us than NATO membership.”
Who is Volodymyr Zelensky?
Volodymyr Zelensky is the sixth President of Ukraine. The 45-year-old is a comedian and TV star turned politician who will lead the country in a war against Russia.
Early life and education
Born on January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovich Zelensky grew up in a Jewish family. Both of his parents – Oleksandr Zelensky and Rimma Zelenska – are engineers.
Before starting primary school, Volodymyr Zelensky lived for four years in Erdenet, Mongolia, where his father worked to help build a copper mine. Zelensky grew up speaking Russian.
Zelensky’s early life was marked by a keen interest in comedy and acting. He graduated from Kyiv National Economic University with a law degree, but pursued a career in entertainment instead.
career in entertainment
Volodymyr Zelensky began his career in entertainment as an actor, screenwriter and producer for the stand-up comedy team KVARTAL 95 from 1997 to 2003. He then became the executive producer of KVARTAL 95, LLC and served as chief executive at the PJSC until 2011. Inter TV station from 2011 to 2012. He returned to KVARTAL 95 from 2013 to 2019, founded the NGO ‘The League of Laughter’ and produced 10 feature films, winning over 30 awards from the National Television Awards of Ukraine. teletriumph,
Zelensky also supported the armed forces during the Donbass conflict by providing funding and equipment for troops. He rose to fame for his role in the 2015 TV series public servantWhere he played the role of a high school history teacher who becomes the President of Ukraine. The show led to the formation of a political party of the same name in March 2018.
unlikely president
In 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky announced his candidacy for the Ukrainian presidency. Despite being a political novice, he won a landslide victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko, garnering 73 percent of the vote. His campaign focused on anti-corruption, economic reform, and Ukrainian nationalism.
Presidency
Volodymyr Zelensky was inaugurated as President of Ukraine on May 20, 2019. He is the first Jewish President of the country. He dissolved parliament, calling for early elections in his inaugural speech, but faced opposition from his coalition partner, the People’s Front. On May 28, he restored the Ukrainian citizenship of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Zelensky’s proposals to change the electoral system and re-introduce criminal liability for illicit enrichment were rejected by the parliament. However, on September 3, he succeeded in wresting legal immunity from lawmakers, fulfilling a key campaign promise.
He canceled the annual Kyiv Independence Day parade in July 2019, and redirected funds to support veterans. In 2020, his party proposed reforms to media laws aimed at reducing the influence of oligarchs, but faced criticism for potential censorship.
Volodymyr Zelensky also focused on updating referendum laws, fulfilling another campaign promise, and introduced a bill to create a public registry of Ukraine’s oligarchs, citing concerns about strengthening presidential power. Despite being passed in September 2021.
Zelensky’s efforts to end the Donbass conflict
The Donbass conflict began in 2014 when Russian-backed separatists took over parts of eastern Ukraine. Resolving this conflict was a major promise of Zelensky’s campaign.
In June 2019, he appointed former President Leonid Kuchma to lead peace talks and spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for EU-mediated discussions and a prisoner exchange.
In October 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky proposed an agreement to respect elections in Donbass if Russia withdrew troops, but the plan faced opposition from nationalists and critics. The agreement failed to reduce violence as the separatists continued their attacks.
By December 2019, Zelensky restarted peace talks with Russia through the Normandie Format with France and Germany as mediators. A ceasefire was declared in July 2020, but despite fewer violations, the conflict remains unresolved.
controversies
Trump-Ukraine Scam: Volodymyr Zelensky found himself at the center of the 2019 impeachment controversy involving then-US President Donald Trump. In a phone call in July 2019, Trump reportedly pressured Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, a major political rival, in exchange for releasing military aid to Ukraine. Despite being embroiled in the scandal, Zelensky said he faced no pressure from Trump. Trump supporters have alleged that Joe Biden used his influence to prevent Ukraine from conducting a criminal investigation that could have implicated the US president’s son Hunter Biden, who worked for a Ukrainian energy company. However, these were only allegations, and there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by Hunter Biden or any steps taken by Joe Biden to benefit his son.
UIA Flight 752 crash: In January 2020, Volodymyr Zelensky ended a trip to Oman early after the crash of Flight 752 in Iran. In January 2020, the plane was shot down by Iranian forces, killing all on board. Zelensky’s administration faced criticism for not taking prompt action to evacuate Ukrainian citizens from Iran.
Russia-Ukraine war
Volodymyr Zelensky has been at the forefront of Ukraine’s resistance to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022. “Ukrainians are not ready to give up their land and accept that these territories belong to Russia,” he told CNN in 2023. Our land,” he declared.
Zelensky has strongly rejected any territorial concessions, saying Ukraine should retain its internationally recognized borders. He has also repeatedly advocated Ukraine’s membership in NATO, considering it vital to long-term security.
Zelensky received strong support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said, “Without any doubt, Ukraine deserves to join NATO.”
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance established in 1949 to provide collective security against potential security threats. It follows an open door policy, allowing any country to join if it meets the principles of the alliance. It should be noted that any existing member can block the entry of a new country under NATO’s accession rules.
personal life
Volodymyr Zelensky has been married to Olena Zelenska since 2003. They have two children – Oleksandra (2004) and Kirilo (2013).
