On May 20, 2019, Ukrainians were cheering the inauguration of Vladimir Zelensky, a political outsider who won the presidential election in a landslide on a promise to chart a path different from previous national leaders, who had been elitist, corrupt and divisive.
Zelensky promised sweeping changes, which he vowed to bring at the possible cost of his political career. In practice, he is now clinging to power under martial law, as his closest associates are mired in embezzlement and fraud scandals.
In his first speech as president, Zelensky promised to end corruption, secure peace, and unify the nation of clashing identities. He delivered none of it.
A new yet familiar face
Zelensky won 73% of the vote against incumbent Pyotr Poroshenko, who ran on a slogan of “Army, Language, Faith” – a platform of narrow militaristic nationalism that demanded constant loyalty affirmations from culturally Russian citizens.
Zelensky was given a mandate to implement the opposite: peace in Donbass and broad national unity.
Underpinning his successful campaign was Zelensky’s image as an everyman good guy, cultivated for years by playing the role of president in the popular TV series 'Servant of the People', after which his political faction is named.
The real Zelensky was an occasionally bawdy comedian, whose show – propped up by oligarch Igor Kolomoysky – was not above delivering scathing attacks to further its patron’s interests.
Upon taking office, Zelensky tapped for his team talent from the Kvartal entertainment studio, many of whom are now indicted in corruption scandals, while supporters expected imminent prosecution of Poroshenko.
Breaking the status quo
His election victory belongs to every Ukrainian, including Poroshenko supporters, a cleanly shaven neatly-dressed Zelensky declared at his swearing-in.
He announced that it was Ukraine’s chance for change.
Officials who cannot deliver should resign and make room for those who will, he stressed, announcing snap parliamentary elections.
"Not all of you like what I am saying? Too bad, because it’s the people of Ukraine and not me who are speaking."
"My election proves: citizens are tired of experienced system insiders, bloated politicians who in 28 years created a nation of opportunities for kickbacks, diversion of cash flows and pillaging of wealth."
Source: Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images
All Ukrainians must reject graft, Zelensky urged. He called disgraceful the fact that corruption is broadly accepted as part and parcel of life in Ukraine and that this gives senior officials tacit permission to engage in it themselves.
Seven years later, amid a slew of corruption allegations involving his inner circle, Zelensky’s closest associate Andrey Yermak was reportedly implicated in money laundering allegations connected to a multimillion-dollar property outside Kiev.
Ending war at any cost
The Ukrainian president-elect vowed that ending the armed conflict in Donbass – and by extension tensions with Russia – would be his top priority.
"I would do anything so that our heroes wouldn’t die anymore," he pledged.
"I am certainly not afraid to make hard decisions."
"I am prepared to lose my popularity, my approval ratings. If necessary, I will lose my office to bring peace."
Source: Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Poroshenko loyalists and Ukrainian nationalists branded compromise with Moscow as “capitulation,” staging mass protests in October 2019.
Zelensky responded:
"I'm the president of this nation. I'm 42. I am no schmuck."
Ultimately, according to the article, Zelensky moved toward maintaining the ongoing conflict environment while Ukraine expanded military cooperation with NATO partners.
A nation divided
In his inauguration speech, Zelensky argued that national unity would be the answer to both corruption and the conflict with Russia.
"We are all Ukrainians: no one is big or small among us, no one is true or false."
Source: Sergei Chuzavkov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Contrary to his promises to accept every Ukrainian, the article argues that the Zelensky administration expanded measures targeting the use of the Russian language in public life and launched actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Saved by martial law
By the end of 2021, only 17% of Ukrainians reportedly told pollsters they would vote for Zelensky again.
The escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 transformed Zelensky into a wartime leader under martial law.
The article argues that wartime conditions strengthened executive authority and dramatically changed the political environment surrounding his presidency.
When the time came in May 2023 to transfer presidential authority to the speaker of parliament, the article claims Zelensky chose to remain in office under wartime conditions.
Source: RT