The Career of Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy | An Unusual Turn from Actor, and the Background

In recent years, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has appeared more and more often in Japanese news as well. Relatively young for a president, he has drawn attention from around the world as the leader of a Ukraine facing Russian aggression.

But did you know that President Zelenskyy was originally a comedic actor? This time, we take a closer look at President Zelenskyy’s career.

The Career of Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy

President Zelenskyy was born in a city known for mining, and dedicated himself to his studies. Here is his career, from childhood to founding a company.

Born in Kryvyi Rih

Zelenskyy was born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih. Kryvyi Rih is a city in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, famous for iron ore mining.

The city has a thriving mining industry and is an important industrial hub for Ukraine.

Growing up in this mining city, Zelenskyy became deeply connected to the local culture and society from an early age. Both of his parents are Ukrainian Jews.

Coming from a family that placed a strong value on education, Zelenskyy himself devoted himself to his studies from a young age. This family environment, which valued learning and knowledge, had a major influence on how his career later took shape.

Graduated from Kyiv National Economic University

Zelenskyy studied law from 1995 at Kryvyi Rih Economic University, the local branch of Kyiv National Economic University, and graduated in 2000. Kyiv National Economic University is one of Ukraine’s major universities, producing many talented graduates.

While studying law, Zelenskyy had a strong interest in entertainment. During his student years he actively took part in theater and comedy, honing his talent.

After graduating, Zelenskyy did not pursue a career in law, and instead jumped straight into the entertainment industry.

This was because he wanted to draw on the knowledge and skills he had built up at university to start a career as a comedic actor.

From Comedic Actor to Founding a Company

Zelenskyy’s entertainment career began with “Kvartal 95,” the team he competed with on KVN, a TV comedy contest show.

KVN was a popular show broadcast across the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and as the central figure of his team, Zelenskyy became loved by many viewers. His humor and acting ability captivated audiences, and the show was a huge success.

Building on this success, Zelenskyy founded the production company “Kvartal 95 Studio.” This production company quickly gained popularity, becoming known both within Ukraine and abroad.

Combining Zelenskyy’s sense of humor with a talent for business, this production company made numerous television shows and films and won many awards.

Zelenskyy’s success in the entertainment industry also led into his career as a politician.

From Playing a President to Becoming Ukraine’s Real President

Zelenskyy had become a popular comedic actor, but appearing in one particular show would go on to change the rest of his life. That show was Servant of the People.

Here is the background behind his turn from actor to president.

The Presidential Role He Played in Servant of the People

Servant of the People, the show Zelenskyy starred in, became a major turning point in his political career. This show was a hit within Ukraine and won overwhelming support from viewers.

The story follows an ordinary history teacher who stands up against a corrupt political system and eventually becomes president of Ukraine.

The protagonist Zelenskyy played was an idealized leader combining a sense of justice with sincerity, and it struck a chord with the public.

Through this show, Zelenskyy succeeded in raising Ukrainians’ political awareness.

This is because the role Zelenskyy played strongly conveyed the need for change in real-world politics, and viewers were moved by that message.

The show’s success became an opportunity to widely convey Zelenskyy’s own vision and values around politics, and formed the groundwork for his career as a politician.

Running in Ukraine’s 2019 Presidential Election

In 2018, Zelenskyy announced that he would actually run in Ukraine’s presidential election.

This news came as a surprise to many, but his candidacy was deeply connected to the idealized image of a leader depicted in Servant of the People.

Partly because of the show’s influence, Zelenskyy already had support from a large number of citizens, and he decided to use that influence to take on the political stage.

Zelenskyy ran a campaign built around fighting corruption, economic reform, and a peaceful resolution. These campaign pledges reflected what Ukrainians had long hoped for, with particular emphasis on eliminating corruption and rebuilding the economy.

Zelenskyy’s political style was fresh, and he succeeded in winning especially strong support from young people.

Winning the Presidential Election and Becoming the Real President

In April 2019, Zelenskyy won an overwhelming victory in Ukraine’s presidential election. His victory reflected the public’s strong dissatisfaction with Ukrainian politics and their desire for change.

Zelenskyy won more than 70% of the vote, an overwhelming show of support, defeating incumbent Petro Poroshenko by a wide margin.

His victory was more than just a popular actor winning an election — it became a symbol of the political change Ukrainians were demanding.

After taking office, he placed importance on direct dialogue with the public and has continued working to achieve highly transparent government through social media. Under Zelenskyy’s leadership, Ukraine began moving toward a new future.

Headwinds Faced by Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy took office as president with an overwhelming victory, but problems arose one after another. Here is a detailed look at his sharp early drop in approval, and the messages to the public that followed.

The First Outright Majority in Ukrainian History

In 2019, Servant of the People, the party Zelenskyy led, won an outright majority in Ukraine’s parliamentary election.

This gave the Zelenskyy administration a solid political base and strong backing for pushing through various reforms. But despite this landslide victory, the Zelenskyy administration would go on to face many challenges.

First, Ukraine’s sluggish economy was a serious problem. Delays in talks with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and in domestic economic reform slowed economic growth.

Also, corruption remained deeply entrenched, and Zelenskyy’s anti-corruption policies did not progress as hoped. With these factors compounding one another, governing became difficult.

The Pandemic, and Plummeting Approval Ratings

The Zelenskyy administration enjoyed high approval ratings when it took office, but gradually faced many problems. Delayed economic reform and the economic impact of the pandemic were especially serious.

The pandemic dealt a major blow to Ukraine’s economy, with rising unemployment and a wave of business bankruptcies, and the Zelenskyy administration’s approval ratings plummeted.

Furthermore, as fighting continued in the east against Russia and Russian-backed armed groups, criticism of his lack of political experience grew. President Zelenskyy was pointed to as someone with a long career as a comedian but insufficient experience as a politician.

There was also internal discord and factional infighting within his party, shaking the administration’s stability. These problems eroded public trust, and many people began to question President Zelenskyy’s leadership.

Approval Ratings Recovered Through Video Addresses

President Zelenskyy worked to recover his approval ratings by drawing on his skilled communication abilities. His 2022 video addresses stand out in particular.

Facing a Ukraine under Russian aggression, President Zelenskyy used video to speak directly to the public, declaring that he would stay in the capital and that he would fight.

His addresses were concise and clear, and appealed to the emotions of many people, resonating deeply with Ukrainians. These efforts paid off, and Zelenskyy succeeded in regaining the public’s trust.

The Diplomatic Skill of Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues. Amid this, President Zelenskyy has actively sought support from EU countries, the United States, and others.

Ukraine’s Diplomacy with Spain, Belgium, and Portugal

Since taking office, President Zelenskyy has actively pursued international diplomacy. In particular, he has focused on strengthening ties with Spain, Belgium, and Portugal.

Strengthening ties with these countries matters greatly for Ukraine’s economic development and security.

Diplomacy Between Ukraine and Spain

With Spain, a bilateral security agreement has been signed, lasting 10 years. In 2024, the scale of Spain’s military support to Ukraine will be worth €1 billion (roughly ¥165.4 billion).

Specifically, the following weapons transfers are under consideration.

• 12 American-made Patriot surface-to-air missile systems
• 19 used German-made Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks
• Spanish-made anti-drone equipment
• Ammunition, among other things

Spain has made a major contribution to Ukraine’s security.

Diplomacy Between Ukraine and Belgium

A bilateral security agreement has also been signed with Belgium. It also specifies the transfer of 30 F-16 fighter jets from Belgium by 2028.

Belgium had already been considering providing weapons to Ukraine, but this is the first time a timeline has been specified.

Diplomacy Between Ukraine and Portugal

Portugal has also signed a bilateral agreement with Ukraine, and has announced it will provide military support worth €126 million (roughly ¥21.5 billion) within 2024.

Portugal has also imported agricultural products such as grain from Ukraine.

Portugal is a Western European country far from Ukraine, not a neighboring one.

Support from the United States, Essential to Ukraine

For Ukraine, support from the United States matters enough to shape its national interest going forward. President Zelenskyy has worked actively to maintain good relations with the U.S. and secure economic and military support.

President Zelenskyy has visited the United States repeatedly, holding meetings with President Biden and other political figures. In 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget bill providing $60.8 billion (roughly ¥9.4 trillion) in military support to Ukraine.

The United States has also provided technical assistance and consulting services to support Ukraine’s economic reforms.

On the military side, support from the United States is essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capability. The U.S. has provided military equipment and training support to Ukraine, boosting its ability to resist Russian aggression.

In particular, anti-tank missiles and air defense systems provided by the United States have dramatically improved Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

President Zelenskyy’s foreign policy is built on a strong partnership with the United States, supporting Ukraine’s security and economic prosperity.

President Zelenskyy’s Address to Japan’s Diet

President Zelenskyy has also been active in strengthening ties with Japan. On March 23, 2022, he gave his first online address to Japan’s National Diet.

In his address, he reported that the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant had been seized by Russian forces, and thanked Japan for being the first country in Asia to put pressure on Russia. He went on to call for continued sanctions, an embargo on trade with Russia, and companies withdrawing from the Russian market, and argued that the world needs to start thinking now about Ukraine’s reconstruction.

He closed his address by saying he was confident Japan would stand together with Ukraine on reforming international institutions and on reconstruction.

The history and cooperative relationship between Ukraine and Japan are explained in detail in the article below — please refer to it.

Reference: Japan-Ukraine Relations | History, Trade, and Economic Support Explained

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy Continues to Face a Difficult Course

President Zelenskyy made an unusual transition from comedic actor to politician. His career gave many people both surprise and hope.

His path as president has been far from smooth, and he has faced many difficulties and headwinds.

But through President Zelenskyy’s leadership and communication skills, Ukraine has been moving in a new direction.

Attention remains on what course President Zelenskyy will steer going forward. The role he plays will likely have a major impact on Ukraine’s future.