Who is Volodymyr Zelensky?
Volodymyr Zelensky was born in Kryvyi Rih in 1978, studied law and built a career as a comedian, actor and television producer with the Kvartal 95 studio. He played a fictional president in the series Servant of the People, which also gave its name to his party. He won the 2019 presidential election with 73 percent in the runoff against Petro Poroshenko, and his party won a parliamentary majority later that year. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 he has governed under martial law, under which elections cannot be held. On 21 October 2026 he backed a US proposal for three-way talks with Russia at negotiator level, ideally by early November.
Previously: Presidential candidate of Servant of the People (2019) · Co-founder of the Kvartal 95 production studio (2003-2019)
Documented positions
- He applied for European Union membership days after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.Source: npr.org
- He announced a fast-track application to join NATO in September 2022 after Russia claimed to annex four regions.Source: theguardian.com
- He proposed a 10-point peace formula including Russian troop withdrawal, restored borders and accountability for war crimes.Source: aljazeera.com
- He signed a 2024 law that lowered the mobilisation age and tightened conscription rules.Source: edition.cnn.com
- In July 2025 he signed a law restoring the independence of the anti-corruption bureau and prosecutor, days after signing one that curbed it.Source: pravda.com.ua
- He signed a 2024 law that could ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.Source: kyivindependent.com
- He said he would not seek a second term once the war ends and would push for elections during a ceasefire.Source: kyivindependent.com
- In October 2026 he backed US proposals for three-way talks with Russia, an energy ceasefire and an end to the war.Source: internazionale.it
Record
Supporters credit Zelensky with keeping Ukraine's state functioning during the invasion, securing large Western military and financial aid and moving the country toward EU membership. Critics cite the concentration of power in his office, the postponement of elections under martial law and corruption cases involving his circle.
In July 2025 a law curbing the anti-corruption agencies triggered the largest street protests of the war, and he signed a law reversing it nine days later.
In their words
“My goal is to finish the war.”