KYIV, July 10 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked his sixth year as a wartime leader this week, having steered the country through more than two years of full-scale conflict since Russia’s invasion began on February 24, 2022. The former comedian and actor, who took office on May 20, 2019, has transformed from a political novice into what Western officials describe as a central figure in the global response to Moscow’s aggression. Zelenskyy, born January 25, 1978, came to politics with no prior government experience.
His rise was propelled by his starring role in the television series “Servant of the People,” which aired from 2015 to 2019, in which he played a teacher who unexpectedly becomes president. In real life, he defeated incumbent Petro Poroshenko in the 2019 presidential election with 73.2 percent of the vote, according to official election results.
His net worth, estimated at $20 million from his entertainment career, placed him among Ukraine’s wealthier public figures, though he has not released updated financial disclosures since the war began. He has been married to Olena Zelenska since 2003, and the couple has two children.
Global Symbol of Resistance
Since the full-scale invasion, Zelenskyy has become what analysts describe as a global symbol of Ukrainian resistance. He has delivered addresses to the US Congress, the UK Parliament, and other international bodies, pressing for sustained military and economic support. His approval rating in Ukraine has remained above 60 percent during the war, according to polling data cited by officials.
That figure stands in stark contrast to pre-war ratings, which had fluctuated amid corruption concerns and stalled reforms.
The Victory Plan and NATO Push
In 2024, Zelenskyy proposed what he called a “victory plan,” which called for increased military aid and intensified economic pressure on Russia. The plan included a full embargo on Russian oil and gas, a step he has consistently urged Western leaders to adopt. He has also pushed for Ukraine’s membership in NATO, a goal that received formal support from the alliance at the 2024 Washington Summit.
That endorsement, while significant, has not translated into a concrete membership timeline, as several NATO members remain wary of triggering a direct confrontation with Moscow.
Time Person of the Year
In 2022, Time magazine named Zelenskyy its Person of the Year, citing his leadership during the early months of the invasion. The recognition cemented his status on the world stage, though Ukrainian officials have noted that the award carried symbolic rather than material weight. As the war enters its third year, Zelenskyy continues to balance the demands of wartime leadership with the political pressures of a democracy.
His calls for stronger Western sanctions on Russia, including the full oil and gas embargo, remain a central pillar of his diplomatic strategy. What to watch next: Whether the incoming US administration will maintain the level of military aid that Kyiv has relied upon.
European allies and Ukrainian officials alike are awaiting signals from Washington.
