Would the screenwriters of the series have imagined such a scenario? The extraordinary destiny of Volodymyr Zelensky, who went from actor to warlord, is another example of a reality that goes beyond fiction.
The Ukrainian president had probably not planned to face Russia alone when he presented his candidacy in 2018 to become president of Ukraine. In just three years, Volodymyr Zelensky has gone from “clown”, in his own words, to head of state, listened to by the powerful of the world and opposed to Vladimir Putin in the most serious conflict between the West and Russia since the Second World War. .
The president by chance in a television series
Volodymyr Zelensky’s political adventure begins like a farce on the evening of December 31, 2018, with the television announcement of his candidacy for the presidential election. At the time, the country knew him for his role as president… on television in the series servant of the people. Ukraine was already at loggerheads with Russia, grappling with a crisis since 2014 and the outbreak of war in the separatist east of the country. A flash election campaign, first conducted on social networks, made the TV star triumph: the neophyte was elected with 73% of the votes in the second round, on April 21, 2019. And the actor who camped a naive professor who became president by chance turned out to be a rather measured head of state.
For the past few months, he has had no other choice but to speak regularly to his fellow war citizens. While he had been elected on two promises: to fight against corruption and to bring back peace… A trial by fire for this young president without political or military experience. Since the beginning of tensions with Moscow, Zelensky has multiplied the evidence of cold blood. And freedom of tone, between the threats and exaggerations of a Vladimir Putin who speaks of “genocide” and “terrorism” and alarmist information from the United States.
This supporter of Ukraine’s entry into NATO thus explained to his fellow citizens in January “What should we do? One thing: stay calm. We will celebrate Easter in April. And then in May, as usual – the sun, the holidays, the barbecues. »
A coolness that many heads of state recognize in him. Emmanuel Macron regularly has his Ukrainian counterpart on the phone and even received him before the showman became head of state. According to The Parisiana French minister described him as “very accessible, very human”.
Supported by his people?
Nevertheless, the young president suffered some criticism from his constituents. “According to a study published in February by the Razumkov Center, 55% of the population believe that in the event of an invasion Volodymyr Zelensky would not make an effective commander-in-chief, capable of organizing the defense of the country”, spotted our colleague from World in this article.
Zelensky’s legitimacy had thus been eroded, “often for reasons that have nothing to do with the military situation, and almost 60% of the population do not want[ait] not that he is running again in the elections, according to the polls, ”analyzed Ioulia Shukan, lecturer in Slavic studies at the University of Paris-Nanterre questioned by Release, before the outbreak of the conflict. Her statements were considered too reassuring, continued the researcher, and the question of a lack of preparation for war emerged.
A lonely warlord
Zelensky’s tone has become more worried and martial in the past 24 hours. After a day of bombardment and promises of harsh reactions, Joe Biden warns Thursday evening that NATO would not send any troops. The showman turned into a solitary warlord to announce the general mobilization a few hours later. Without hiding his bitterness. “Who is ready to fight with us? I do not see anyone. Who is ready to giveUkraine the guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid,” denounced the Ukrainian president.
On Friday morning, Russian tanks entered Kiev. He tackles the Westerners again. “All possibilities of sanctions have not yet been exhausted. The pressure on Russia must increase. That’s what I said [à la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen] said Zelensky on Twitter.
At the start of the afternoon, an annoyed and desperate president called on Europeans to wake up: “How are you going to defend yourselves if you are so slow in helping Ukraine? he launched to the Europeans. If you have combat experience (…) you can come to our country to defend Europe. »
Putin’s number one target
How long will it last? “I am staying in the capital, courageously warned Zelensky on Thursday evening. We are not afraid. According to the West, Putin has only one objective: to decapitate democratic power and install a government favorable to Moscow instead. On Friday, shortly before 4 p.m., the Russian president also called on the Ukrainian military to “take power” in Kiev by overthrowing President Volodymyr Zelensky and his entourage, whom he described as “neo-Nazis” and “drug addicts”. “.
According to Michel Goya, French historian and soldier, even if the Ukrainian president resigns, he would risk being prosecuted.
Zelensky is not fooled. In his speech declaring national mobilization on Thursday evening, the Ukrainian president assured: “According to reliable information, the enemy has made me target number 1, my family target number 2.” danger, ”confirms Alexandra Goujon, French specialist in Ukraine and lecturer at the University of Burgundy, to AFP.
“President Zelensky’s security is a central element of what is happening now,” said Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Foreign Affairs on Friday morning on France Inter. “We are in a position to be able to help him if necessary (…) We will take the necessary measures,” he assured. While refusing to say if this aid could go through an exfiltration.