"In today's world, where we live, there is no longer someone else’s war. None of you can feel safe when there is a war in Ukraine, when there is a war in Europe"
On this day in 2019 In the second round of voting, a candidate who only a few years previous was better known for his comedy TV, Films and the voice of Paddington bear received 73 per cent of the vote to Poroshenko's 25 per cent, and was elected President of Ukraine. That man was Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Born to Jewish parents and grew up speaking Russian, Zelensky would go on to earn a law degree but would never practice as his passion was entertainment and especially comedy. Early in his career he toured with a comedy group before moving into mainstream Russian/Ukrainian movies. In 2015 with an uncanny foresight of what was to come Zelensky became the star of the TV series Servant of the people, his character was a high-school history teacher in his 30s who won the presidential election.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his presidency, his country and the world changed on 24th February when Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces marking an end to peace in Europe and causing the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war. Many reports coming out of the warzone describe atrocities being committed and possible war crimes against the civilian Ukrainian population.
Zelensky went from Celebrity, to President to a war time leader that galvanised the world into action against Putin.
His leadership during the crisis has won him widespread international admiration, and he has been described as a symbol of the Ukrainian resistance and bravery.
This week's sketch…