Yet Mr. Zelenskys behavior, odd to the point of erratic, obscures a truth: He has no good options. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: If the person was born to be a politician, yeah, it's OK. But now the threat is total: Up to 190,000 Russian troops have amassed near Ukraines borders and in separatist regions, and an invasion, bringing devastation and disaster, could come at any time. We are defending Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/bgHyrsbVFs, Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 25, 2022. This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog. In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is an attempt to de-Nazify Ukraine. In normal circumstances, that would be bad enough. And there are reports that dozens of others in government have connections to his TV company or his family. 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. Instead, he studied law. The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state, Zelensky said. VASYLCHUK: Because of he's young, new minds, new thinking, new - everything new. COVID-19 deaths worldwide as of February 28, 2023, by country and territory, COVID-19 cases worldwide as of February 28, 2023, by country or territory, Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, recoveries, and deaths worldwide as of Feb. 28, 2023, Cumulative cases of COVID-19 worldwide from Jan. 22, 2020 to Feb. 26, 2023, by day. Ukraine still backs Zelenskyy despite slow progress Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was seen by many as a comic actor who stumbled into the presidency. 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. By YURAS KARMANAU February 13, 2022. 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. 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. He started brightly. 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. On 20 May, 2019 sworn in as the 6 th President of Ukraine. Forty years later, his grandson became president. 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. Joe Biden approval: US President at critical juncture as approval "The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state," Zelensky said. 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. If the EU could speak, what would it say? The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. 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. Lord Ashcroft Polls published approval ratings in Ukraine with President Zelensky, unsurprisingly, the most popular with 93% approval. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. VASYLCHUK: In my childhood in St. Petersburg. His government was pursuing a political rival on treason . "Ugh a sign at a construction site in downtown Ottawa," reads the tweet's caption. 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 . Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, adidas Promo Code - $30 Off 1000s of Best-Sellers + Free Shipping. 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. And given his nonpolitical roots, one of the unlikeliest. The party's 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. Joe Biden approval: Volodymyr Zelensky is currently the world's most iconic leader . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his iconic green T-shirt have become recognizable figures on the world stage in the weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine. 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). 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. KELLY: NPR's Daniel Estrin, so glad you were here helping to tell this story. 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. His family is Jewish and, like many Ukrainian Jews, was scarred by the Holocaust. It's an imperfect democracy, but it is a democracy. Zelensky's hugely popular in the U.S. But there's a catch. His hastily assembled team quickly fell apart, and yesterdays allies turned into some of his harshest critics. Survey characteristics refer to the latest survey, which was conducted throughout Ukraine excluding territories of Crimea and Donbas not controlled by the government. We are in Kyiv. Zelensky Wins Social Media. Social media is supremely important in KELLY: So that brings us to this moment. What Ukrainians Think About the War With Russia - WSJ Now it is 91 per cent. Zelensky's brave response has made me reconsider. Driving the news: Zelensky has become a very vocal leader for his country after the latest unprovoked attack by Russia. When asked whether they approve of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's performance, 59% said they strongly approved and 32% that they somewhat approved of it. The man now seen as the face of resistance to Russian military aggression voiced the Peruvian bear in the . 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. President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the members . A former actor used to the sound of applause, Mr. Zelensky is notoriously thin-skinned when it comes to criticism and challenging questions. Business Solutions including all features. A brief history of corruption in Ukraine: the dawn of the Zelensky era Response to Allison and Blackwill, Portugal faces an impossible task, expect a second bailout, Malaysias looming general election: what it means for the economy, Omans future: What goes up must come down, Margaret Thatchers prophetic prediction of the Euros sorry state. Zelensky. The approval rating saw a decrease compared to. The public was outraged, but Mr. Zelensky mumbled a disapproving comment and moved on. 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). 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. The crisis continues. 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. The translator was heard pausing and choking up while conveying Zelensky's words. His approval rating, despite starting at a high of 55 percent in January 2021, spent the year in freefall. Now, he is at. I'm about to lace up skates, and we'll tell you why. As the West pursued megaphone diplomacy to discourage an invasion, Mr. Zelensky tried to downplay the threat. ESTRIN: He made a lot of promises that people really wanted to hear. NATALIA SLASTINA: (Non-English language spoken). By the numbers: Zelensky has a 72% positive confidence rating, with Americans voicing "some or a lot" of confidence in the Ukrainian President. Afiq Fitri is a data journalist at New Statesman Media Group. 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. A former actor used to the sound of applause, Mr. Zelensky is notoriously thin-skinned when it comes to criticism and challenging questions. India Dot Com Private Limited. 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. Volodymyr Zelensky Leads the Defense of Ukraine with His Voice The approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen down amid conflict with Russia. 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. 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. Instead, he studied law. A Jew and a native Russian speaker, Volodymyr Oleksandrovich Zelensky was born on January 25th, 1978. I buckle up and prepare to skate, something I have not done in quite a while. His approval rating is in the low 40s. who have a 91 per cent approval rating for Zelensky - want to be "liberated" by Russia. Now, he is. With more than 70 percent approval, . 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. He won the Ukrainian equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. volodymyr zelensky; vladimir putin; More + Comments Leave a Comment. Lviv had its doubts about Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Here's how he won their 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%). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? Ukraine president's ratings fall as crisis with Russia brews. That's been happening in Ukraine for years. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky: The comedian president who is - BBC News 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. West should have helped Ukraine in 2014, Zelenskyy tells Davos - CNBC But from showbiz, it's hard. Zelensky's approval rating falls below 50%. Pew notes that this is a downturn since the start of his term, when that number was closer to 6 in 10 American adults. Illustration by Joo Fazenda. . Want more international stories in your inbox? According to Transparency International, Ukraine remains the third-most-corrupt country in Europe, after Russia and Azerbaijan. She has previously attained a BA degree in International Relations from Sofia University St. 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. A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. Photograph:(AFP), War zone: Ukraine's US-made Javelin anti-tank missile vs Russian T-72 beasts. 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. 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. So first he promised to fight corruption, which is really rampant in Ukraine. 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. The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Show sources information In the summer, it's a playground. Ukraine is a democracy. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? The date range for these polls are from the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election to the present day. Its not just the media Mr. Zelensky struggles to work with. 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The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. KELLY: A sampling of voices there from the skating rink next to Zelenskyy's office. Use Ask Statista Research Service, Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Corruption just doesnt seem to worry Mr. Zelensky much at least when those implicated are close to him. Pew: Most Americans are confident in Zelenskyy's leadership on - NPR 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. Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) is the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian news site. [Online]. This is not Russia. He's 42. 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. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set 33% of the 72% expressed a lot of confidence in Zelensky. Assuming things continue, well be able to look with pride on a leader who identifies as a Jew and who has been able to articulate a kind of moral stance, and in the face of aggression, and who certainly never hid the fact that he was Jewish but instead takes pride in it, he added. NBC News reports a senior Department of State official said the U.S. will reopen. Ms. Rudenko is a Ukrainian journalist and the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent. He has been the president for two - more than two years right now. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. The understanding that social networks are not propaganda tools but a tool for direct communication has given Zelensky a 90% approval rating. This fear from local Jews has persisted into the early days of the Russian invasion. [Graph]. 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. 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. Poll shows 98% Ukrainians believe in Ukraines victory, 91% approve of Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Zelensky has toed a line between, projecting a strong patriotic front against Russia, and working to delicately stand up to the nationalists. 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. Accessed March 04, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100076/volodymyr-zelensky-s-approval-rating-ukraine/. But the successes largely stopped there. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. ESTRIN: Yeah. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Sixty-two percent of Ukrainians dont want him to run for re-election, and if an election were held today, hed garner about 25 percent of the vote down from the 30 percent he easily won in the first round of the 2019 election. 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. Throughout 2020 his approval rating steadily fell. The party has struggled to identify its core ideology, with notions of libertarianism and centrism put forth. So that has led to our showing up at this ice skating rink. Volodymyr Zelensky was born January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city in eastern Ukraine. https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-ukrainians-think-about-the-war-russia-putin-invasion-zelensky-victory-results-approval-rating-11651868038. They've still got a Christmas market up. First, President Volodymyr Zelensky commands a 94% approval rating. (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. Local wins for local players There were constant reshuffles. "Full support and respect . Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. August 11, 2022. Ukraine is one of the few countries that elected a Jewish president, Oksana Markarova, the Ukraine ambassador to the United States, told the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry in a webinar on Friday. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He has. Two years after the war, his son was born. The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. He gets more than 70% of the vote. Scandals and tolerance for corruption have chipped away at Mr. Zelenskys popularity. That prompted some to speculate whether that could include Ukrainian Jews. Do the public support the nurses strike? Today, though, as of last week, a poll shows that 30% only support this president. But if it did come to that, does he trust Zelenskyy to defend Ukraine? This time last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea Russia would invade. March 5, 2022. But then he did just that. A former movie producer and longtime friend was made chief of staff, joining other friends and confidants of Mr. Zelensky in wielding outsize power. It is a similar story across the country, as approval ratings for Mr Zelenskyy skyrocket. The United States War Against Russian Disinformation: Is the GEC Fit for Purpose? Furthermore, issues of ideological clarity, lack of reform progress and internal fragmentation have seriously damaged Servant of the Peoples political position. First, he got tangled up in the impeachment of Donald Trump. The skating rink admittedly is a little harder to storm. Opinion polling for the next Ukrainian presidential election - Wikipedia By Charlie Smith 05:51, Fri, May 13 . Opinion: President Zelensky is a profile in courage | CNN Early in his tenure, Mr. Zelensky commanded more power than any of his predecessors had. ESTRIN: He's a comedian, and he's a TV star. Anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies are either stalling or run by loyalists appointed by the president. 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? Here are some tips. We wanted to hear what the other side of things is. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Mr. Zelensky, stung by the fallout, came to largely rely on the loyal rather than the qualified. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact In, International Republican Institute. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100076/volodymyr-zelensky-s-approval-rating-ukraine/ (last visited March 04, 2023), Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? Biden sees minimal poll bounce from Ukraine as Zelensky's US approval During the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election candidate (and latter winner of the election) Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was running for only one term. All Rights Reserved. Zelensky suffered 'huge political blow' before Russian invasion All rights reserved. That topic is acutely relevant in Ukraine, a post-Soviet republic with a large population of hypernationalists. 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. His fathers father, Semyon, served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II; Semyons father and brothers were all murdered in the Holocaust. Subscribe for the best of our politics, international affairs, culture and business coverage, straight to your inbox. KELLY: We don't have another one, she says. How President Zelensky's approval ratings have surged More than 90 per cent of Ukrainians approve of their leader, compared with just 31 per cent before the Russian invasion.