Three years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was a comedian with little experience of politics.
But life soon imitated art for Zelensky when, on New Year’s Eve in 2018, he upstaged the country’s then-leader Petro Poroshenko and announced on live TV that he would be running for president himself.Poroshenko, a pro-Russian billionaire, lost to the television star across all regions of the country, including in the west where he traditionally enjoyed strong support.
At his campaign HQ, as the exit polls came out, ever-defiant Zelensky said: ‘I will never let you down. While I am not formally president yet, as a citizen of Ukraine I can tell all post-Soviet countries: “Look at us! Everything is possible!”.’Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes a selfie at the first congress of his party following his landslide election win Zelensky was born in January 1978 in the large Russian-speaking city of Kryvyi Rih, in what was then the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Zelensky’s grandfather fought in the Soviet Red Army against the Nazis in World War Two and was the only one of four brothers to survive the war.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani donates 1 billion yen to UkraineHiroshi Mikitani promises the sum in a letter to Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky
Read more »
People want Jeremy Renner to play Zelensky in movie version of Russia invasionSure, it's only been five days since Russia invaded Ukraine, but people on the internet are already talking about a potential movie about the invasion and they've cast the perfect Zelensky. If there's one thing Hollywood loves, it's a dramatic reenactment of war: Saving Private Ryan, The Hurt Locker...
Read more »
Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia on border with BelarusPutin gave his 'special gratitude' for troops involved in the 'special operation to provide assistance to the people's republics of Donbas'.
Read more »
Ukrainian president Zelensky accuses Moscow of war crimes - follow liveUkrainian president Zelensky accuses Moscow of war crimes - follow live 🔴 🚨 Russia Ukraine
Read more »
Former Ukraine president shares wish list for defiant troopsPetro Poroshenko, a former Ukraine president who has joined the frontlines to defend the country from Russia, says more equipment is needed to defend the embattled country
Read more »