KYIV, July 11 — Against this backdrop of grinding war and diplomatic manoeuvring, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet commented on the Trump administration’s proposal to impose tariffs on Russian oil, a measure that would align with his long-standing calls for greater economic pressure on Moscow. The Ukrainian leader, a former comedian and actor who entered politics on an anti-corruption platform, has been in office since May 20, 2019.
Born in Kryvyi Rih on January 25, 1978, he has led his country through the full-scale Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022. Since then, he has become a global figure, rallying Western support through addresses to the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and other international forums.
Zelenskyy has consistently called for tougher sanctions on Russia, including a full embargo on Russian oil and gas. The proposed U.S. tariffs on Russian oil align with his calls for economic pressure on Moscow. His approval rating in Ukraine has remained high, above 80% in some polls, despite the ongoing war.
This domestic support has given him considerable political capital to pursue his foreign policy objectives, including Ukraine’s membership in NATO and the European Union. In 2023, Ukraine exported grain under a Black Sea grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.
Russia exited that agreement in July 2023. Zelenskyy has not yet spoken specifically about the Trump administration’s tariff proposal. The Ukrainian president has made economic pressure on Moscow a central pillar of his wartime strategy.
Zelenskyy’s journey from comedian to wartime leader is without precedent in modern European history. He won the presidency on an anti-corruption platform, promising to clean up Ukraine’s political system. Then came the invasion, and his role transformed overnight.
He has since become a familiar figure in Western media. His speeches to the U.S. Congress and the United Nations have been carefully calibrated to maintain international attention and aid flows.
