Meet Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's comedian turned president who's at the center of the scandal threatening Trump's presidency
Zelensky, 41, rose to fame via comedy and as the star of a popular TV show in Ukraine called "Servant of the People." In the show, Zelensky's character is an idealistic schoolteacher who goes on a viral tirade about government corruption and ends up becoming president.
Zelensky's presidential campaign was in many ways an embodiment of the saying "life imitates art." He ran for president in real life on an anti-corruption platform.
Zelensky, whose nickname is "Ze," won a landslide victory with over 70% of the vote in April.
Source: BBC
Though Zelensky has pegged himself as a crusader against corruption, he's faced criticism over his relationship with a Ukrainian oligarch named Ihor Kolomoisky, who owned TV station that aired the show that made Zelensky famous.
Source: The New York Times
Kolomoisky was a rival of Zelensky's predecessor, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and lived in self-imposed exile before returning to Ukraine just three days before Zelensky's inauguration.
As one of his first big actions as president, Zelensky in May dissolved Ukraine's parliament and called for a snap election. It was viewed as an effort to consolidate power as he portrayed it as a step toward making good on his promise to stamp out corruption.
Source: The New York Times
Zelensky has expressed interest in having Ukraine apply for NATO membership while also sending mixed signals to Russia. He's pushed for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine while also calling for Western governments to keep hitting Moscow with sanctions.
Source: The Wall Street Journal; Forbes
On July 25, Trump and Zelensky spoke on the phone. During the call, Trump repeatedly urged Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who until recently was on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company.
Source: Insider
Amid the scandal that's surrounded the phone call, Zelensky has avoided addressing the subject.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25, Zelensky mainly spoke about Russia and did not mention Trump. “Nobody will feel safe while Russia is waging war against Ukraine in the center of Europe,” he said. “The thought that this has nothing to do with you or will never touch your interests will be fatal.”
Source: The New York Times
During his first meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA, Zelensky told reporters he does not want to "get involved" in US elections as he faced questions about the July 25 phone call. He also rejected the notion Trump "pushed" him and described it as a "normal" call.
Meet Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's comedian turned president who's at the center of the scandal threatening Trump's presidency
- Read more:
- Trump is facing impeachment over a whistleblower complaint and a phone call with Ukraine's president. Here's what we know.
- The US's top spy agency referred the Trump whistleblower complaint to the DOJ for criminal investigation. The DOJ decided not to investigate.
- 'I stayed at the Trump Tower': Ukrainian president's call with Trump shows how far world leaders can go to massage his ego
- The notes on Trump's call with Ukraine's president hint at a quid pro quo over investigating Joe Biden's son
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