INA KULIG: (Non-English language spoken). 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. He says you can hear people criticizing the president in the streets, you know, even sometimes in the skating rink. 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. As we have been out and about here in the Ukrainian capital, we have met a lot of people who have a lot of not particularly nice things to say about the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the U.S. Congress on March 16. Ukraine is a democracy. He is visibly irritated by traditional journalists: In. Her name is Natalia Slastina, and she called the president zero. We know he was on the phone today with President Biden. 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. KELLY: He's the one you have. 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. But now, when Ukraine is menaced by Russia, it may be affecting Mr. Zelenskys judgment. During the Russian war on Ukraine, however, the 44-year-old has matured into a respected statesman. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zelensky's approval rating as president dropped from 33.3 percent in September to 24.7 percent in October, separated from Poroshenko's approval rating by fewer than ten percentage points. 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. Throughout 2020 his approval rating steadily fell. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. KELLY: Max does not think there will be a war with Russia. 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. So did Leon Blum, who faced antisemitic animus in. 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. But the successes largely stopped there. You only have access to basic statistics. And given his nonpolitical roots, one of the unlikeliest. Zelensky's approval rating falls below 50%. Although Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraine's borders, Zelenskiy has repeatedly pushed back against warnings by the United States and other NATO allies that Russia could attack Ukraine at any moment. (Ukrainian presidential press) Before Russia invaded his country, Volodymyr Zelensky had an approval rating within Ukraine of around 32 per cent. Boris Johnson was a close second on 90%, while US. 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.. "Do You Approve or Disapprove of The Actions of The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?. We are here. So Volodymyr Zelensky told the White House in late February, as it offered to evacuate him from a country under siege by Russia. I understand. Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. The crisis continues. 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. : Comedians, Contrarians, Raconteurs & Vulgarians and host of . 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. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. He gets more than 70% of the vote. By YURAS KARMANAU February 13, 2022. Ukraine president's ratings fall as crisis with Russia brews. And just 33% of Americans are confident in his ability to handle an international crisis, according to the Economist poll. Instead, he studied law. 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. We are defending Ukraine, Zelensky said. President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the members . A Jew and a native Russian speaker, Volodymyr Oleksandrovich Zelensky was born on January 25th, 1978. Volodymyr Zelensky has become the epitome of an unlikely hero . In fact, almost half of Americans ages 65 and older have a lot of confidence in Zelenskyy, compared with 28% of adults under 30. Forty years later, his grandson became president. Some 92% of Americans have little or no confidence in the Russian leader's handling of world affairs, while 77% have none at all. He beats the incumbent. volodymyr zelensky; vladimir putin; More + Comments Leave a Comment. And in the show, this video goes viral. People who think the country is . KYIV, Ukraine (AP) As a political novice making an unlikely run to be Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to reach out to Russia-backed rebels in the east who were fighting Ukrainian forces and make strides toward resolving the . Strategic objectives are sacrificed for short-term benefits. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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.. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's strategy for dealing with . 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. The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. Climate Change, Hurricanes and US Security, Opinion: Churn in No. But a video of Zelensky and his team defiantly announcing they are staying in Kyiv circulated widely on Friday, as supporters around the world characterized him as a beacon of honor in an age of leaders only interested in preserving their own status. 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. His family is Jewish and, like many Ukrainian Jews, was scarred by the Holocaust. Email. More than 90 per cent of Ukrainians approve of their leader, compared with just 31 per cent before the Russian invasion. The latest polling shows that Zelenskys approval ratings have almost tripled since December 2021, when just 31 per cent of Ukrainians supported him. 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). By the time Zelensky joined the Servant of the People series in 2015, he was one of Ukraines most famous pop culture figures. India Dot Com Private Limited. Please do not hesitate to contact me. The United States War Against Russian Disinformation: Is the GEC Fit for Purpose? His fathers father, Semyon, served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II; Semyons father and brothers were all murdered in the Holocaust. Use Ask Statista Research Service, Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). 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. who have a 91 per cent approval rating for Zelensky - want to be "liberated" by Russia. 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. And why is Russian Vladimir Putin suggesting that he is a Nazi? and whose brief term post-war was seen as a step forward for Frances coming to terms with its Nazi collaborationism. J. Scott Applewhite /Pool/AFP via Getty Images, In 'Servant of the People,' viewers got a glimpse of the future President Zelenskyy, Most Americans don't like Biden's Ukraine response and worry about inflation, Putin's puffy coat and Zelenskyy's T-shirts show the power of fashion in war, Read more here about the study's findings and methodology. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.S. Congress on March 16, 2022, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Before running for president, Zelensky was a comedian. Zelensky won the election in a landslide. He appointed the head of his own television production studio to be the head of the Ukrainian version of the FBI. His recent failure to gain the support of local districts further exhibits Zelensky and his partys decline and their inability to deliver meaningful political change in Ukraine. The party has struggled to identify its core ideology, with notions of libertarianism and centrism put forth. Pew notes that this is a downturn since the start of his term, when that number was closer to 6 in 10 American adults. He has excelled in the role of warrior-president and won the hearts of the people he was elected to serve. ESTRIN: And in the TV show, he plays an ordinary guy, a schoolteacher who has an outburst against corruption in Ukraine. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Zelensky struggled as president, facing intense criticism, making major gaffes, and watching his approval ratings plummet. His outburst is full of expletives. Accuracy and availability may vary. KELLY: So we keep talking about Zelenskyy. The approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen down amid conflict with Russia. Statista. has quickly become one of the most consequential and prominent Jewish world leaders in recent decades. 2000 - Graduated from Kyiv National Economic University, with a law degree. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Hey there. Now, a new survey puts a finer point on just how much support he has from the American public. 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. Other historical figures whose Jewishness featured large in their national leadership include Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th-century British prime minister who was faced unrelenting antisemitism. 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%. The latest. Despite early signs of progress, the newly elected President delivered no real reforms, and failed to handle relations with local leaders amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Putin fared the worst of any head of state included in the survey, with only 6% of U.S. adults expressing confidence in him following his decision to invade Ukraine. We are in Kyiv. (Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images). Russian President Vladimir Putin received dismal ratings, with only 6% of adults expressing confidence in him after Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine. All rights reserved. ", (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE"). Show publisher information The ideal entry-level account for individual users. He has. Zelensky's brave response has made me reconsider. they were proud to see their country after its history of anti-Jewish pogroms and Soviet-era persecution elect a Jewish president. 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. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. [Graph]. Mr. Zelensky, the showman and performer, has been unmasked by reality. The very next day, he claimed Russia might invade Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. Any decisive move against Russia, on the other hand, risks giving the Kremlin a pretext for a deadly invasion. 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. What does all this mean for his ability to handle this crisis now in full swing with Russia? Now, he is at. Zelenskyy and the German . [Online]. WION: "Approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fall amid Russia conflict" Paul Provenza, author of Satiristas! hide caption. Zelensky has also allegedly experienced pressure from Ukrainian oligarchs such as Ihor Kolomoisky, who owns the TV channel that aired his show, and who strives to regain control over the now nationalised PrivatBank, the largest retail bank in Ukraine. Zelinsky initially made his name in Ukraine as a comic actor portraying on television a teacher who inadvertently becomes president after railing against corruption. . Today, though, as of last week, a poll shows that 30% only support this president. Corruption just doesnt seem to worry Mr. Zelensky much at least when those implicated are close to him. 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. Here are some tips. Mr. Zelensky, stung by the fallout, came to largely rely on the loyal rather than the qualified. who seek to honor former Nazi collaborationists, through statues, marches and other tributes. 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. Business Solutions including all features. And now hes facing the prospect of a full-scale invasion by Russia. "Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?." Russia's goal, he says, is. In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is an attempt to de-Nazify Ukraine. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set He began an enormous road construction program, proclaiming that he wanted to be remembered as the president who finally built good roads in Ukraine. 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? Since the war began, he has been appealing to world leaders for more support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Also see |War zone: Ukraine's US-made Javelin anti-tank missile vs Russian T-72 beasts. Published Feb. 3, 2020. The war is still going. The understanding that social networks are not propaganda tools but a tool for direct communication has given Zelensky a 90% approval rating. VASYLCHUK: I'm Ukrainian, but (unintelligible) the entire country USSR - former USSR now. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? Positioning himself as the antithesis of Poroshenko, Zelensky ran in the presidential election as a populist politician who defends the interests of the people against the ruling class.