[166][167], On 19 February, as worries of a Russian invasion of Ukraine grew, Zelenskyy warned the Munich Security Conference that Western nations should abandon their "appeasement" attitude toward Moscow. It's a great, pleasure to be once more here in Kyiv to reaffirm the depth of the partnership between our two peoples. He said this on the air of the American TV channel Fox News. As president, Zelenskyy has been a proponent of e-government and of unity between the Ukrainian and Russian speaking parts of the country's population. You will not have a quiet place on this earth except for a grave. In the early hours of 24 February, shortly before the start of the Russian invasion, Zelenskyy recorded an address to the citizens of both Ukraine and Russia. [125] On 11 July 2019, Zelenskyy held his first telephone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin, during which he urged Putin to enter into talks mediated by European countries. BRASILIA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro disauthorized his Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday for saying that Brazil opposed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.. [262], In a 2014 interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said that he would have liked to pay a visit to Crimea, but would avoid it because "armed people are there". [42][43][c] Once again, Zelenskyy spoke out against the intention of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to ban Russian artists from Ukraine.[39]. [230], Zelenskyy denounced suggestions by former US diplomat Henry Kissinger that Ukraine should cede control of Crimea and Donbas to Russia in exchange for peace. The vice president also serves as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate, a role that is mostly ceremonial but that gives the vice president the tie-breaking vote when the Senate is deadlocked. If you don't want to leave now, sit down with me at the negotiating table. [240], Speaking about the 2022 Russian mobilization, Zelenskyy called on Russians to not submit to "criminal mobilization", saying: "Russian commanders do not care about the lives of Russians they just need to replenish the empty spaces left" by killed and wounded Russian soldiers. [241] Following Putin's announcement of Russia annexing four regions of Ukrainian territory it had seized during its invasion, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was president. [173] Later in the day, he announced general mobilisation. "The vice president's visit is meant to send a signal of reassurance and unity on the part of the United States to these Eastern NATO allies," said Olga Oliker, the Brussels-based Europe and . PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY: (As interpreted.) Blinken also commented on Vice President Kamala Harris's announcement in Munich that the U.S. had formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. "[162][163] On 28 January, Zelenskyy called on the West not to create a "panic" in his country over a potential Russian invasion, adding that constant warnings of an "imminent" threat of invasion are putting the economy of Ukraine at risk. [102] Fixing the referendum law had been one of Zelenskyy's campaign promises. [255] The program states that Ukraine should set the goal to apply for a NATO Membership Action Plan in 2024. [197] He proposed a new collective security agreement for Ukraine with the United States, Turkey, France, Germany as an alternative to the country joining NATO. Kyiv, Ukraine. So Is Its Prime Minister. This was decided by the passport service of Ukraine. [54] His announcement up-staged the New Year's Eve address of incumbent president Petro Poroshenko on the same channel,[54] which Zelenskyy said was unintentional and attributed to a technical glitch. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (also transliterated as Zelensky or Zelenskiy; born 25 January 1978) is a Ukrainian politician and former comedian and actor who has served as the sixth and current president of Ukraine since 2019.. Born to a Ukrainian Jewish family, Zelenskyy grew up as a native Russian speaker in Kryvyi Rih, a major city of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in central Ukraine. [282][283] Kiyashko worked as a scriptwriter at Kvartal 95. The EU will be with you and your people tomorrow and for as long as it takes. He then pursued a career in comedy and created the production company Kvartal 95, which produced films, cartoons, and TV shows including the TV series Servant of the People, in which Zelenskyy played the role of the Ukrainian president. [280], On 2 December 2022, Zelenskyy entered a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that would officially ban all activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) UOC in Ukraine. Please not that all time are approximate and are subject to change. [19] He recorded the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dubbing of Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017). [221][222][223] The Communist Party of Ukraine, another pro-Russia party, had already been banned in 2015 because of its support to the Donbas separatists. In Zelenskyy's 2014 movie 8 New Dates, their daughter played Sasha, the daughter of the protagonist. But no . I am sure there are. [38], Zelenskyy was a member of the board and the general producer of the TV channel Inter from 2010 to 2012. [256] Two days before the second round, Zelenskyy stated that he wanted to build "a strong, powerful, free Ukraine, which is not the younger sister of Russia, which is not a corrupt partner of Europe, but our independent Ukraine". [82], Zelenskyy was inaugurated on 20 May 2019. As early as October 2018, three months before his campaign announcement and six months before the presidential election, he was already a frontrunner in opinion polls. [278][279] Civil rights organizations praised the statement, though criticizing its vagueness, as Zelenskyy eschewed details about legal proposals for civil partnerships. From 21 January until 18 April 2019 Zelenskyy did not give interviews. [99][100], In January 2021, parliament passed a bill updating and reforming Ukraine's referendum laws,[101] which Ukraine's Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional in 2018. Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "agreed on the importance of giving Ukraine the military momentum they need to secure victory against tyranny," according to a . [193] Zelenskyy said he is ready for dialogue, but "not for capitulation". Trump called Zelensky on July 25 to congratulate the new president of Ukraine on his election. . [140] Later, Yermak contacted the on-line newspaper Ukrainian Truth and gave more details about the visit to Oman and the plane crash in Iran. ", "Ukraine-Russia crisis: Ceasefire violations rise at contact line", "OSCE in Donbas reports 55% less ceasefire violations in 2020", " , ", " , , ", " " " ", " , ", Prystaiko about the visit of Zelensky to Oman: When time comes we will explain ( : ), "Zelensky to meet EU officials on first foreign visit", "Ukrainian president to resume exhumation of Poles in Ukraine: report", "Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies", "The Biden family's strange business history", "Ukrainian President Denies President Trump Pressured Him", "Biden, Zelensky Discuss Energy, Russia, Ukraine's Future With the West", "President Zelensky, First Lady open Ukrainian House in Washington", "Zelensky arrives to Washington to meet Blinken, Granholm, Biden", "Zelensky to meet with Apple CEO in California on Sept 2, visit Silicon Valley, speak at Stanford University", "In California, Zelensky meets with Ukrainians working at Silicon Valley companies", "Zelensky at Stanford: 'Russia's policy is to take, not give', Top Adviser to Ukrainian President Is Targeted in an Assassination Attempt, "Ukraine's Zelensky on frontline as Merkel urges Putin to pull back troops", "Zelensky warns Ukraine 'entirely prepared' if Russia attacks", "Zelenskiy says Ukraine uncovers coup plot involving Russians; Kremlin denies role", "Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says Ready for Russian Escalation, Claims Coup Plot Uncovered", "EU threatens Russia sanctions as NATO backs Ukraine", "Some Ukrainians Are Angry About Washington Ordering Diplomats' Families To Leave The US Embassy", "Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of causing 'panic' with warnings of a Russian invasion that hurts the Ukrainian economy", "Ukraine to the world: keep calm and stop spreading panic", "Ukraine crisis: US president Joe Biden tells Zelensky to 'prepare' for Russian invasion", "Ukraine's president told Biden to 'calm down' Russian invasion warnings, saying he was creating unwanted panic: report", "Ukraine is 'longing for peace' says Zelensky at Munich Security Conference", "Full Translation: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Feb. 23 Speech", "Volodymyr Zelensky's appeal to Russians: 'The people of Ukraine want peace', "London Playbook: BREAKING: Putin declares war Bombs Kyiv Blasts rock major cities", "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces attack from three sides", " ", "Ukrainian president signs decree on general mobilisation of population -Interfax", "Ukraine president orders full military mobilisation", "Putin Unbowed as Russia Presses Ahead With Invasion Toward Kyiv", "U.S. stands ready to evacuate Zelensky, Russia's 'No. "[123], One of Zelenskyy's central campaign promises had been to end the Russo-Ukrainian War and resolve the Russia-sponsored separatist movement there. [4]:710 His party won a landslide victory in the snap legislative election held shortly after his inauguration as president. [141], On 17 January 2020, the presidential appointee Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko was unable to give answers during the "times of questions to the government" in parliament when the people's deputies of Ukraine asked him about the visit's official agenda, the invitation from Oman, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were preparing the visit, as well as how the president actually crossed the border while visiting Oman. [156], In April 2021, in response to Russian military build-up at the Ukrainian borders, Zelenskyy spoke to American president Joe Biden and urged NATO members to speed up Ukraine's request for membership. [252] At the same time, he believed that the Ukrainian people had already chosen "eurointegration". [49], In March 2018, members of Zelenskyy's production company Kvartal 95 registered a new political party called Servant of the People the same name as the television program that Zelenskyy had starred in over the previous three years. Zelenskyy turned down both offers and opted to remain in Kyiv with its defense forces, saying that "the fight is here [in Kyiv]; I need ammunition, not a ride". Now he's standing up to Putin's army", ": , , , , ", " ()", "How funny is the comedian who may be Ukraine's next president? The comedy series Svaty ("In-laws"), in which Zelenskyy appeared, was banned in Ukraine in 2017,[44] but unbanned in March 2019. The attack was largely deemed to have failed at its intended goal. Regular, normal people. [101], In June 2021, Zelenskyy submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill creating a public registry of Ukraine's oligarchs, banning them from participating in privatizations of state-owned companies, and forbidding them from contributing financially to politicians. [128] The agreement failed to ease the conflict, as the separatists continued their attacks and Russia continued providing them with weapons and ammunition. He invited African leaders for virtual meeting but only four of them attended. [113], In the 21 July 2019 parliamentary election, Zelenskyy's political party, Servant of the People, won the first single-party majority in modern Ukrainian history in parliament, with 43 per cent of the party-list vote. At the heart of Congress' probe into the president's actions is his claim that former Vice President and 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden strong-armed the Ukrainian government to fire. [85] One of Zelenskyy's coalition partners, the People's Front, opposed the move and withdrew from the ruling coalition. But not from 30 meters away, like with Macron and Scholz. The. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor . [263] In August 2014, Zelenskyy performed for Ukrainian troops in Mariupol and later his studio donated 1 million to the Ukrainian army. [181] A Pew Research Center poll found that 72% of Americans had confidence in Zelenskyy's handling of international affairs. [124] On 3 June, Zelenskyy appointed former president Leonid Kuchma as Ukraine's representative in the Tripartite Contact Group for a settlement in the conflict. WASHINGTON An election-year investigation by Senate Republicans into corruption allegations against Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son, Hunter, involving Ukraine found no evidence of improper . His party gained 254 of the 424 seats. VICE . President Poroshenko and his supporters claimed that Zelenskyy's victory would benefit Russia. Parliament also confirmed Andrii Zahorodniuk as defence minister, Vadym Prystaiko as foreign minister and Ivan Bakanov as head of the SBU. MUNICH (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday heralded NATO unity during the escalating Ukraine crisis and warned Russia that the U.S. and Western allies stood ready to respond with tough sanctions if President Vladimir Putin moves forward with an invasion of Ukraine. February 25, 2022, 11:05am. President of Ukraine. [56] Zelenskyy stated that he was not hiding from journalists but that he did not want to go to talk shows where "people of the old power" were "just doing PR" and that he did not have time to satisfy all interview requests.[63]. [255] The programme also states that Zelenskyy "will do everything to ensure" that Ukraine can apply for European Union membership in 2024. [145], In August 2019, Zelenskyy promised to lift the moratorium on exhuming Polish mass graves in Ukraine after the previous Ukrainian government banned the Polish side from carrying out any exhumations of Polish victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army-perpetrated Volhynian massacres, following the removal of a memorial to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Hruszowice, southeastern Poland. Vice President Kamala Harris stressed on Saturday that Russia must be held to account for its "barbaric" actions in Ukraine, telling a security conference in Munich that the United States had. 27 February 2023 - 09:01. Ukraine's vice prime minister called on SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk to help the embattled nation with communication satellites on Saturday, as they faced a third day of assaults from Russia .. Shefir was unhurt in the attack, although his driver was hospitalized with three bullet wounds. Two of those attempts were carried out by the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary force, and the third by the Kadyrovites, the personal guard of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Zelenskyy said: "We support Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty just as Azerbaijan always supports our territorial integrity and sovereignty. Homeownership is an essential part of the American dream. The only candidate who finished near the former president, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, finished with only 20 percent of the . "[citation needed] By September 2020, Zelenskyy's approval ratings had fallen to less than 32 per cent. Leave our land. But the citizens of Russia must see it. But we have a right to urge a transformation from an appeasement policy to one that ensures security and peace," he stated.[168]. [179][189] During the invasion, Zelenskyy has been reportedly the target of more than a dozen assassination attempts; three were prevented due to tips from Russian FSB employees who opposed the invasion. [45], Zelenskyy worked mostly in Russian-language productions. On 7 March 2022, Czech president Milo Zeman decided to award Zelenskyy with the highest state award of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion, for "his bravery and courage in the face of Russia's invasion". [266][267] As he considered the leaders of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR) to be Russia's "puppets", it would "make no sense to speak with them". [165] Zelenskyy and U.S. president Joe Biden disagreed on how imminent the threat was. In the absence of the prime minister of Ukraine, the first vice prime minister performs his or her duties [a] as the acting prime minister. [283], Zelenskyy's first language is Russian, and he is also fluent in Ukrainian and English. [182], Zelenskyy has gained worldwide recognition as the wartime leader of Ukraine during the Russian invasion; historian Andrew Roberts compared him to Winston Churchill. [22][23][24] His grandfather, Semyon (Simon) Ivanovych Zelenskyy, served as an infantryman, reaching the rank of colonel in the Red Army (in the 57th Guards Motor Rifle Division) during World War II;[25][26] Semyon's father and three brothers were killed in the Holocaust. The interlocutors discussed preparations for the 5th Conference on Reforms in Ukraine, which will be held on July 4-5, 2022 in the Swiss city of Lugano. [242], On 25 September 2022, Zelenskyy said that Putins threats to use nuclear weapons "could be a reality." Topline: President Trump and his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, repeatedly claimed that Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden engaged in corruption while the two had dealings in Ukraine. The cabinet is a collegiate body consisting of the cabinet's "presidium" composed of the Prime Minister of Ukraine and their vice prime ministers as well as other ministers who participate and vote on sessions of the cabinet.