Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the president of Ukraine, a position he has held since 2019. Born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, he originally worked as a professional actor and comedian before entering politics. He rose to fame after starring in a popular television show where he played a high school teacher who unexpectedly becomes the president of Ukraine. In 2019, he ran for the actual presidency as a political outsider and won with a large majority of the vote. Since 2022, his leadership has been defined by his role in defending Ukraine following a large-scale invasion by Russia. He has become widely known for his international diplomacy, efforts to secure military and financial support for his country, and his focus on strengthening Ukraine’s ties with the European Union and NATO. As of June 2026, he continues to lead Ukraine through the ongoing war, working with international allies to seek security guarantees and push for a diplomatic path to peace.