The president elected in 2019 with a large majority had seen his popularity erode until the war in Ukraine. From now on, the Ukrainians agree to salute his action, including the opposition.
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He went from the status of clown to that of hero: after three months of war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky is at the height of his popularity. Elected in 2019 with more than 73% of the vote against outgoing President Petro Poroshenko, his popularity rating had fallen sharply thereafter. But, since the Russian invasion, the man of television become president is the guarantor of the national unity and is thus greeted by all.
“There has never been a president like this and there will not be another”, says Quiril, in the streets of kyiv, Wednesday, May 25. He had voted for Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019. Today, more than ever, he claims to be proud of his president. The time when the president made people laugh on television seems very far away. “Now is not the time to criticize him”defends Vladimir, who believes that we can no longer make fun of the one who unites the nation like never before.
“He does everything possible and everyone makes mistakes, even him. He really behaves like a responsible president should.”
Vladimir, Ukrainian who lives in kyivat franceinfo
Наш священний оберіг на цій війні. З Днем вишиванки, Україно! pic.twitter.com/O5Su8xrA5t
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2022
The war in Ukraine has made Volodymyr Zelensky untouchable and the opposition has understood this well. MP Rostyslav Pavlenko is a supporter of former President Poroshenko, but when asked about Zelensky, the answer is clear and leaves no room to criticism – at least not at this time. “We must unite our efforts to win in order to fight the enemies. This union is important in the country but also on the international scene. This is how we will be effective and we expect the world to do the same.” Everyone complies because even those who had voted against him in the presidential election are now under the spell.