So we're going to see if we can find some. Three-quarters of Democrats and Democrat-leaners say they have confidence in Biden's international abilities, compared to just 16% of Republicans and Republican-leaners. Why did people vote for him so overwhelmingly? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the U.S. Congress on March 16. Climate Change, Hurricanes and US Security, Opinion: Churn in No. I understand. Corruption just doesnt seem to worry Mr. Zelensky much at least when those implicated are close to him. Within that group, 33% have the highest level of confidence in Zelenskyy's leadership abilities. She has previously attained a BA degree in International Relations from Sofia University St. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Here are some tips. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. Zelensky won the election in a landslide. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. 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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has seen his approval rating skyrocket amid the invasion from Russia. He says you can hear people criticizing the president in the streets, you know, even sometimes in the skating rink. MAX VASYLCHUK: I mean, in my childhood, I was a hockey player. More than 90 per cent of Ukrainians approve of their leader, compared with just 31 per cent before the Russian invasion. We are here. 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. And now hes facing the prospect of a full-scale invasion by Russia. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Want more international stories in your inbox? He gets more than 70% of the vote. Some 92% of Americans have little or no confidence in the Russian leader's handling of world affairs, while 77% have none at all. 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. Zelensky. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". So first he promised to fight corruption, which is really rampant in 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. 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. 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. NATALIA SLASTINA: (Non-English language spoken). Mr. Zelensky, the showman and performer, has been unmasked by reality. 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%. Gestures, for him, are more important than consequences. 2022. Americans with more education, especially those with postgraduate degrees, are also more inclined to have confidence in the Ukrainian president. His first year in charge was chaotic. And so that's the TV show, and then it happens in real life. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for selfies with voters. Zelensky subsequently struck a more assertive tone in pushing for membership of the European Union and the NATO . According to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, only 30 per centof the countrys people want Zelenskyy to run for a second term and even fewer,23per cent, would vote for him. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? Anyone can read what you share. . A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. 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. The latest polling shows that Zelenskys approval ratings have almost tripled since December 2021, when just 31 per cent of Ukrainians supported him. The words he uses dont matter, as long as they are entertaining. 1 target,, 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. His government was pursuing a political rival on treason . February 28, 2022 / 2:06 PM / CBS News. but ultimately became a successful comedian, joining a popular comedy group that performed across the former Soviet Union. And his party - get this - is called Servant of the People. Boryana Saragerova received a MA in Terrorism, Security & Society from Kings College London. That didn't happen. 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. Zelinsky initially made his name in Ukraine as a comic actor portraying on television a teacher who inadvertently becomes president after railing against corruption. His fame and anti-establishment allure landed him with a parliamentary majority, a handpicked cabinet and a mandate for reform. Directly accessible data for 170 industries from 50 countries and over 1 million facts: Get quick analyses with our professional research service. . In normal circumstances, that would be bad enough. Weve had political figures who are deeply aligned with the Jewish community and use that as a jumping off point for political power. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. He won the Ukrainian equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. First, he got tangled up in the impeachment of Donald Trump. ESTRIN: And he rises to stardom in this show, and he's elected to president because, you know, everyone sees this video. The understanding that social networks are not propaganda tools but a tool for direct communication has given Zelensky a 90% approval rating. Throughout the conflict, he has . 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. I'm about to lace up skates, and we'll tell you why. His outburst is full of expletives. He started brightly. 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. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. Forty years later, his grandson became president. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: When he was becoming president, he said, I will stop the war. And there are reports that dozens of others in government have connections to his TV company or his family. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a Russian act of "terror" after at least 10 people were killed on Saturday in a strike on the centre of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Who should I appoint for roles like the head of the Ukrainian FBI? In fact, almost half of Americans ages 65 and older have a lot of confidence in Zelenskyy, compared with 28% of adults under 30. "Ugh a sign at a construction site in downtown Ottawa," reads the tweet's caption. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. 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. 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. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. The presidents tense relationship with the press doesnt help, either. Published Feb. 3, 2020. His hastily assembled team quickly fell apart, and yesterdays allies turned into some of his harshest critics. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. The crisis continues. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. 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. Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. [Online]. We are defending Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/bgHyrsbVFs, Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 25, 2022. "Do You Approve or Disapprove of The Actions of The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?. KELLY: Wow. I buckle up and prepare to skate, something I have not done in quite a while. A young couple is holding hands. Any decisive move against Russia, on the other hand, risks giving the Kremlin a pretext for a deadly invasion. Anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies are either stalling or run by loyalists appointed by the president. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (As Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, speaking Russian). Chart. Its not just the media Mr. Zelensky struggles to work with. I mean, he is Ukrainian in all of his heart, but hes also Jewish.. Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member? Ukraine president's ratings fall as crisis with Russia brews. . 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%). Instead, he studied law. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. Her name is Natalia Slastina, and she called the president zero. August 11, 2022. 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 . Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) is the chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, a Ukrainian news site. It's also about three times. And it's low, but, you know, just like that skater you met today, people don't really see an alternative. This would complicate Zelenskyys ambitions for another term in 2024, so the political landscape could change drastically. ", (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE"). His opponents said he was so inexperienced, he was bound to be a disaster. Several results stand out. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Throughout 2020 his approval rating steadily fell. The circle around the president has become an echo chamber. As the West pursued megaphone diplomacy to discourage an invasion, Mr. Zelensky tried to downplay the threat. People who think the country is . Russian President Vladimir Putin received dismal ratings, with only 6% of adults expressing confidence in him after Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. New ministers were given very little time to prove themselves and were kicked out if they didnt. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: If the person was born to be a politician, yeah, it's OK. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, center, surely never imagined the job would get quite so intense. Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. 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. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. India Dot Com Private Limited. Statista. Then he had to deal with the Covid pandemic. First round. Volodymyr Zelensky has become a hit across the world . Opinion: Nuclear Energy Security: Sleep Walking into the Next Energy Crisis? 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. Instead, he studied law. Zelensky has toed a line between, projecting a strong patriotic front against Russia, and working to delicately stand up to the nationalists. The approval rating saw a decrease compared to. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Email. 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. Driving the news: Zelensky has become a very vocal leader for his country after the latest unprovoked attack by Russia. Servant of the Peoples declining popularity has contrasted with the success of its mayoral counterparts in the recent local elections, where 661 independent candidates won mandates in comparison to the 225 gained by Zelenskys party. 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. Not only did the President lose the popularity test to local strongmen, but he also failed to handle tensions between the central government and local government officials. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? At the most consequential hour in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a vengeful and erratic autocrat invades Ukraine alluding darkly to . Many experts thought Kyiv would fall in 24 hours but four days later the battle continues.. Hed still be likely to win, but the historic 73 percent he scored in the second round feels like a distant memory. If the EU could speak, what would it say? And Mr. Zelensky, a comedian for most of his life, is in over his head. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become the face of his country's spirited defense against Russian aggression. This is a striking turnaround for a leader who was previously seen as inexperienced and ineffective. who seek to honor former Nazi collaborationists, through statues, marches and other tributes. With more than 70 percent approval, . The Power of Values: An Interview With an Obama Foreign Policy Speechwriter, Opinion: A Review of Bill Haytons latest book, Invention of China. We are in Kyiv. He had a very long day today talking with foreign embassies about this whole situation, and he says, listen. The biggest controversy, however, was his firing of prosecutor general Ruslan Ryaboshapka, favoured by Western countries because of his anti-corruption efforts and drive for reform. We keep circling the rink until we come across Max Vasylchuk (ph). The biggest risk for Ukraine and the biggest risk for the sovereignty of our state is destabilization within our state, Zelensky said. 2000 - Graduated from Kyiv National Economic University, with a law degree. 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? He has. 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. Only 28.2% of Ukrainians approve of President Volodymyr Zelensky's performance, . He began an enormous road construction program, proclaiming that he wanted to be remembered as the president who finally built good roads in Ukraine. 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 very next day, he claimed Russia might invade Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: Zero, zero, zero. ESTRIN: When he was running for president, he said he would fight nepotism. Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. And that Jewish identity has been repeatedly seized on by enemies and rivals, and celebrated by Jewish supporters around the world. 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. She is 41-year-old Ina Kulig (ph). The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. 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).