He became the president of Ukraine on May 20th, 2019. Boris Johnson was a close second on 90%, while US. International Republican Institute. Pew notes that this is a downturn since the start of his term, when that number was closer to 6 in 10 American adults. Zelensky. 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Zelenskys ambitions appear to be colliding with his populist rhetoric, while his willingness to succumb to pressure from oligarchs is gradually losing him the trust of Ukrainians and the West. After winning the. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned around his domestic political fortunes with his leadership over the past few weeks, earning the support of an overwhelming majority of the country . The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. So we're going to see if we can find some. ESTRIN: And in the TV show, he plays an ordinary guy, a schoolteacher who has an outburst against corruption in Ukraine. You only have access to basic statistics. Zelensky has toed a line between, projecting a strong patriotic front against Russia, and working to delicately stand up to the nationalists. Weve had political figures who are deeply aligned with the Jewish community and use that as a jumping off point for political power. Now, he is at the center of the continents most significant conflict since World War II, framing himself as a possible martyr on the world stage. But once. 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. During the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election candidate (and latter winner of the election) Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was running for only one term. 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., In a bizarre complication to the narrative, Putin has repeatedly said that his military operation is, 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. That. I buckle up and prepare to skate, something I have not done in quite a while. 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. When Zelensky fails, they will think of him as the Jew and take revenge against the Jews, said Yevgeniy Romenovich, a Kyiv resident, said at the time. More than 90 per cent of Ukrainians have thrown their support behind their president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as the country continues to resist Russias invasion, according to a new national poll conducted by the Ratings Sociological Group. We are in Kyiv. 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. All Rights Reserved. Its a gravely serious situation. First, President Volodymyr Zelensky commands a 94% approval rating. Zelensky declined to debate Poroshenko until two days before the second round of polling would begin, and that meeting had all the trappings of a sporting event. VASYLCHUK: I'm Ukrainian, but (unintelligible) the entire country USSR - former USSR now. 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. When Mr. Zelensky took power in Ukraine in 2019, converting his TV fame into a stellar political career, no one knew what to expect. .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. I point to the building next to us and ask her, what does she think of the president? Volodymyr Zelensky was born January 25, 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city in eastern Ukraine. (Ukrainian presidential press) Before Russia invaded his country, Volodymyr Zelensky had an approval rating within Ukraine of around 32 per cent. Details: For the survey, Pew asked 3,581 U.S. adults from March 21 to 27 about their confidence level in world leaders. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. A young couple is holding hands. [Graph]. Belgian mother slits throats of her five children and 16 years later chooses to die by euthanasia, Intelligence chiefs from 25 countries met in India this week, American woman arrested for self-administering abortion pills. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian who had no experience of politics when elected less than three years ago, has suddenly emerged as a convincing war leader. He says you can hear people criticizing the president in the streets, you know, even sometimes in the skating rink. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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 latest polling shows that Zelenskys approval ratings have almost tripled since December 2021, when just 31 per cent of Ukrainians supported him. 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. 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. The source specified that only Ukrainians living in Ukraine were surveyed. Volodymyr Zelensky has become the epitome of an unlikely hero . But from showbiz, it's hard. Ukraine is a democracy. Instead, he studied law. MAX VASYLCHUK: I mean, in my childhood, I was a hockey player. This ambiguity and lack of direction or concrete results have led to a drop of approval for both Zelensky and Servant of the People, with criticism from pro-Kremlin and pro-Western powers alike. (August 11, 2022). 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. move than serious policy. Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, there were doubts over whether the 44-year-old had the political nous to lead the country during an existential crisis. 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. The front door is - I don't know - 20, 25 feet from this ice skating rink, which is now filling up with kids. On the one hand, any concession to Russia, particularly over the conflict in eastern Ukraine, would likely bring hundreds of thousands of people to the streets threatening him with the fate of Viktor Yanukovych, the president overthrown by a revolution in 2014. 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. Instead of being comforted, the country was confused. Her name is Natalia Slastina, and she called the president zero. Two years after the war, his son was born. Total population of the Ukraine 1992-2021, Number of live births in Ukraine 2000-2021, Life expectancy at birth in Ukraine 2020, by gender, Median age of the population in Ukraine 1950-2100, Gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine 2021, Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Ukraine 2021, Labor force participation rate in Ukraine 2019, Youth unemployment rate in Ukraine in 2021, Value of imports of goods to Ukraine 2011 to 2021, National debt of Ukraine in relation to gross domestic product 2005-2021, Ratio of military expenditure to gross domestic product (GDP) in Ukraine 2021, New cases of COVID-19 worldwide from January 23, 2020 to February 26, 2023, by day, Public opinion on Volodymyr Zelensky in Russia in 2019, by age group, Public opinion of Russians on the future of relations with Ukraine 2019, Public trust in Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine 2020-2021, Poll on respect for Trump from other world leaders 2019, Share of adults who think president Donald Trump embodies American values U.S. 2020, Public approval rating of Nigel Farage in the UK 2016, Opinion on delaying Electoral College vote due to Russian hack December 2016, Politics and political participation in Italy, Find your information in our database containing over 20,000 reports. 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. The sentiment is shared nearly equally by Democrats and Republicans, even though Republicans have been much more likely to express confidence in Putin's leadership in recent years. We keep circling the rink until we come across Max Vasylchuk (ph). Zelensky's approval ratings are continuing to rise. International Republican Institute. The man now seen as the face of resistance to Russian military aggression voiced the Peruvian bear in the . After winning the election as a political novice with 73% of the vote, Mr. Zelenskys public approval rating had fallen to only 25% last October. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. He has. A former movie producer and longtime friend was made chief of staff, joining other friends and confidants of Mr. Zelensky in wielding outsize power. But Ukrainians have little confidence that Zelenskyy can ensure that stability. She has previously attained a BA degree in International Relations from Sofia University St. Sign up for JTAs Around the World newsletter. . The Power of Values: An Interview With an Obama Foreign Policy Speechwriter, Opinion: A Review of Bill Haytons latest book, Invention of China. KELLY: Max does not think there will be a war with Russia. What is Zelensky most likely to . statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. they were proud to see their country after its history of anti-Jewish pogroms and Soviet-era persecution elect a Jewish president. Furthermore, issues of ideological clarity, lack of reform progress and internal fragmentation have seriously damaged Servant of the Peoples political position. Instead, he studied law. 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. . 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. NBC News reports a senior Department of State official said the U.S. will reopen. (Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images). Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska at a polling station on election day in Kyiv, May 21, 2019. In 2019 the Verkhovnaya Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) passed an anti-corruption bill criminalising illegal state official enrichment practices. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? Directly accessible data for 170 industries from 50 countries and over 1 million facts: Get quick analyses with our professional research service. And he had this very successful show on Ukrainian TV, a political sitcom called "Servant Of The People. Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites. At the time, Zelensky had the approval of 29.3% of respondents and the disapproval of 56.1%. Kesselman's confidence in Zelensky, Ukraine's first Jewish president, is both widely shared the president enjoys a record approval rating of about 70 percent and unusual for this . There were constant reshuffles. 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. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. 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. Zelensky's current level of support is higher than it's ever been since Ratings Sociological Group started polling Ukrainians about the president in May of 2019. ESTRIN: He says in this video, who likes it when the president appoints his best man or his friend from the army? And now hes facing the prospect of a full-scale invasion by Russia. Corruption just doesnt seem to worry Mr. Zelensky much at least when those implicated are close to him. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member? 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. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. The circle around the president has become an echo chamber. Kliment Ohridski. "For instance, about two-thirds of Democrats voice confidence in Macron and Scholz, while only about four-in-ten Republicans say they have confidence in each European leader.". He started brightly. So that was one promise he didn't keep, and the other promise Zelenskyy made was that he was going to talk with Putin and find a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian territories that Russia exerts control over. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. It is beautiful even if my skating is not. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. August 11, 2022. "Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky?." Now, a new survey puts a finer point on just how much support he has from the American public. Why didnt his obituaries say so? According to Transparency International, Ukraine remains the third-most-corrupt country in Europe, after Russia and Azerbaijan. More than half of Ukrainians still . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. KELLY: We don't have another one, she says. 1 target, he said in a video message, and his family is the No. INA KULIG: (Non-English language spoken). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for selfies with voters. VASYLCHUK: In my childhood in St. Petersburg. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Nevertheless, these elections have also been influenced by the global coronavirus pandemic, as voter turnout was very low in comparison to previous local elections in 2015, mainly due to health concerns and a demoralised electorate. The crisis continues. Zelensky struggled as president, facing intense criticism, making major gaffes, and watching his approval ratings plummet. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. The claim: '15-minute city' planned in Ottawa will confine residents. Two days after the invasion began, he personally thanked the thousands of Russian anti-war protesters who defied their authorities and took to the streets. By Charlie Smith 05:51, Fri, May 13 . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Furthermore, although he did not achieve a breakthrough in negotiations with Russia during the 2019 Normandy Summit, President Zelensky succeeded in securing a large prisoner exchange with the Kremlin, as well as another ceasefire agreement. Its not just the media Mr. Zelensky struggles to work with. Zelensky subsequently struck a more assertive tone in pushing for membership of the European Union and the NATO . By Alexander Query. Interestingly, Volodymyr Zelensky has an unconventional background he wasn't familiar with the world of politics before he was elected the president of Ukraine in 2019. I mean, it's like his popularity ratings went off the cliff. . Local wins for local players Now, he is at. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. We are defending Ukraine, Zelensky said. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Early in his tenure, Mr. Zelensky commanded more power than any of his predecessors had. 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. The approval ratings of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fallen down amid conflict with Russia. Several results stand out. We've been told that because of the location, this is a place where Zelenskyy supporters like to come skate. Russia's goal, he says, is. As the West pursued megaphone diplomacy to discourage an invasion, Mr. Zelensky tried to downplay the threat. Even the presidents beautiful newly built roads are mired in controversy. Has it contributed to the conflict in any way? "Full support and respect . His opponents said he was so inexperienced, he was bound to be a disaster. An interpreter translating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech broke down on the air. 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. Afiq Fitri is a data journalist at New Statesman Media Group. (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. Photograph:(AFP), War zone: Ukraine's US-made Javelin anti-tank missile vs Russian T-72 beasts. 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. But Ukrainians have little confidence that Zelenskyy can ensure that stability. Business Solutions including all features. 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. He appointed the head of his own television production studio to be the head of the Ukrainian version of the FBI. Snow is pelting down. 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. 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. 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 . Why did people vote for him so overwhelmingly? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law in the view of Russia targeting its military infrastructure. 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? And today he stands before you, Zelensky said in a speech during a January 2020 presidential trip to Israel, where he appeared with then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. and whose brief term post-war was seen as a step forward for Frances coming to terms with its Nazi collaborationism. In the summer, it's a playground. And his party - get this - is called Servant of the People. NATALIA SLASTINA: (Non-English language spoken). Pew calls this an "all-time low" in surveys going back nearly two decades. 2 target. No wonder 53 percent of Ukrainians think Mr. Zelensky wont be able to defend the country if there is an invasion. Emmanuel Macron is right to want to return African art to Africa, The rise of Elly Schlein, the new left-wing leader of the Italian Democrats, Universal Credit falls short of covering the bare essentials. 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? The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Others said he was an oligarch puppet. UNIDENTIFIED INTERPRETER: When he was becoming president, he said, I will stop the war. March 5, 2022. I'm now getting lapped by 5-year-olds (laughter). Has it contributed to the conflict in any way? Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1100076/volodymyr-zelensky-s-approval-rating-ukraine/. Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. Jonathan Sarna, a professor at Brandeis University and one of the foremost historians on Jewish history, said that whatever the outcome, Zelensky could end up in a pretty singular place in the history books. Do you approve or disapprove of the actions of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky? First, he got tangled up in the impeachment of Donald Trump. Email. Boryana Saragerova received a MA in Terrorism, Security & Society from Kings College London. A noteworthy feature of the elections was Ukraines well-functioning democracy, as local incumbents secured their posts and only a few won their mandates without run-offs. volodymyr zelensky; vladimir putin; More + Comments Leave a Comment. . First, President Volodymyr Zelensky commands a 94% approval rating. The results of such polls are displayed in this article. Driving the news: Zelensky has become a very vocal leader for his country after the latest unprovoked attack by Russia. 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. March 17, 2022. Now it is 91 per cent. I mean, he is Ukrainian in all of his heart, but hes also Jewish.. 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: So that brings us to this moment. The television star-turned-wartime president has used social media to boost his country's morale and won standing ovations at virtual addresses to governments around the world. The show must go on, of course. 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. Olena Zelenska presented the Ukrainian Bookshelf and Ukrainian-language audio guides in Albania and Ireland 27 February 2023 - 15:24 He later batted down an evacuation offer from the United States. The poll found 24 percent of <30 adults saying they don't know about Zelensky vs. 9 percent of seniors; still, 23 percent of those under 30 rated Zelensky unfavorably vs. 9 percent of seniors.. Americans are more. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. In, International Republican Institute. Well, I met someone in the street the other day who seemed to sum up why people are critical of him. Anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies are either stalling or run by loyalists appointed by the president. 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 an interview he gave in 2018. 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? 77% of those surveyed said to have no confidence at all in Putin. NATO member states have rallied round Ukraine in recent weeks, with the United States, Britain and Poland among countries offering military aid and calling for tough sanctions on Moscow if Russia launches an attack. So first he promised to fight corruption, which is really rampant in Ukraine. 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 throughout Ukraine. With more than 70 percent approval, . A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. That topic is acutely relevant in Ukraine, a post-Soviet republic with a large population of hypernationalists. President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the members . We know he was on the phone today with President Biden. Ukraines Zelensky posts a new video of himself and his team outside the presidential administration in Kyivs government quarter after rumors in Russian media that hed fled. The president's powers were constantly increasing, and, despite an expected decline in his popularity rating, Zelensky remained the most popular among Ukraine's most prominent politicians, especially those with presidential ambitions. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Zelensky's brave response has made me reconsider. Strategic objectives are sacrificed for short-term benefits. Boryana specialises in international affairs, and political instability and international security, namely terrorism and extremism, insurgencies, regional and global conflicts and has expertise in Public and Private International Law. (2022). But this understandable effort to project calm and steady skittish markets was undermined by his showy style. More than half of Americans have confidence in Macron and Scholz, while ratings for the Chinese leader remain unchanged from the past year at 15%.