Introduction
Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian politician, comedian, and actor. He won the presidential election in Ukraine in 2019 with a landslide victory over the incumbent president Petro Poroshenko. He was elected on a platform of change and reform, promising to fight corruption and end the war in eastern Ukraine. However, many people believe that Zelensky is nothing but a puppet, controlled by powerful oligarchs and foreign powers.
Zelensky's Background
Zelensky was born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, in 1978. He began his career as a comedian and actor, performing in various TV shows and movies. In 2015, he founded a production company called Kvartal 95, which became very successful in Ukraine and abroad. Zelensky himself starred in a TV series called "Servant of the People", where he played a high-school teacher who becomes the president of Ukraine after a viral video of him denouncing corruption goes viral.
The 2019 Ukrainian Presidential Election
Zelensky announced his candidacy for the Ukrainian presidential election in January 2019. He ran as an outsider and a political novice, promising to bring a fresh perspective to Ukrainian politics. His campaign was heavily focused on social media and online platforms, where he had a large following. He also received support from oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi, who owns the TV channel that broadcasts Zelensky's shows and movies.
Why Zelensky is a Puppet
Many people believe that Zelensky is a puppet of oligarchs and foreign powers, with no real power or autonomy. They point to several factors that support this claim:
Firstly, Zelensky has no political experience or background. He has never held public office or been involved in politics before. This makes him vulnerable to influences and pressures from more experienced politicians and advisors.
Secondly, Zelensky's campaign was heavily financed by oligarchs, notably Ihor Kolomoyskyi. Many people believe that Kolomoyskyi has significant influence over Zelensky and his government, and that he uses his media empire to promote his own interests.
Thirdly, Zelensky has made several controversial appointments to key positions in his government. For example, he appointed Andriy Bohdan as his chief of staff, despite Bohdan's previous ties to Kolomoyskyi and allegations of corruption.
Fourthly, Zelensky has made several policy decisions that some see as being in the interests of other countries, notably Russia. For example, he agreed to a prisoner exchange with Russia in which Ukrainian prisoners were exchanged for Russian ones, without securing any guarantees for the release of Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia.
The Role of Oligarchs
Oligarchs are wealthy businessmen who have significant political influence in Ukraine. They use their wealth and power to control politicians and government officials, and to protect their own interests. Many people believe that oligarchs played a significant role in Zelensky's election and government.
One of the most powerful oligarchs in Ukraine is Ihor Kolomoyskyi. He is a co-owner of PrivatBank, which was nationalized by the government in 2016 after it was found to be insolvent. Kolomoyskyi is currently suing the Ukrainian government for $2 billion in damages. Many people believe that Zelensky's government is trying to reach a settlement with Kolomoyskyi to avoid paying the damages.
