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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill are not the only ones who have spoken in the US Congress. But parallels between the two leaders began to be drawn in the spring of 2022 both in the UK itself and around the world, in the first weeks, the first months of a full-scale war unleashed by Russia. Political scientist Vladimir Fesenko spoke about this on the air of the FREEDOM TV channel.
“This speech by Churchill in 1941 and the current speech by Zelensky are united by circumstances, the spirit of resistance, the desire for victory, the need to ensure an alliance of countries that resist fascist aggression. Then the aggression of fascist Germany, now the aggression of fascist Russia. And this is an appeal to a nation that has always fought for the ideals of democracy. The United States needs a common struggle, it needs support. Here is the general. And I agree that this speech in Congress, in addition to state awards, is a symbolic recognition. Biden, who is hugging our president, is a completely different picture than, say, a year ago, in late August – early September 2021, a completely different attitude. Because Ukraine deserved it, Vladimir Zelensky himself deserved it. How American congressmen, American politicians really treat him. After all, these are sincere emotions, sincere feelings, this is recognition of both our country and Volodymyr Zelensky as an outstanding politician who really showed not only personal courage, ”he said.
According to the political scientist, Zelensky’s huge personal political and media activity has become one of Ukraine’s main weapons in the international arena.
“There are weapons that fight against the aggressor inside the country, and there are weapons that fight for Ukraine in the information-political, international sphere. And Vladimir Zelensky became such a weapon, because he charges emotions. In the first days of resistance, which really brought Zelensky world fame, he became an emotional impulse for the resilience of Ukrainians, he relayed it to Ukrainian society, but he relayed it to the world, and the world eventually responded and began to help us more and more actively. And this momentum continues,” Fesenko believes.
He recalled that Zelensky brought the momentum of Ukrainian resistance from the battling Bakhmut in the Donetsk region to the White House and the US Congress.
“The symbol of this resistance, this emotional impulse of the Ukrainian spirit of resistance, about which Volodymyr Zelensky himself spoke very well, became a symbol of this medal, which Zelensky brought from the front and handed it over to the US President. Ukrainian flag. Ukrainian military ensign, which was also brought from Bakhmut to the US Congress. This emotional impulse is working, eventually uniting the entire huge international coalition in support of Ukraine. And the president of Ukraine connects all this with his huge, informational, political and, in general, just personal activity, ”says Fesenko.
In this context, the political scientist recalled a long-standing discussion – what is more important – a person in history or historical circumstances, the masses?
“A historical personality always acts as a catalyst, acts as the subject that can start processes, give them additional strength. And Volodymyr Zelenskyy was at the right time in the right place and, with his activity, strengthened the Ukrainian resistance and connected it with the international support of our country,” Volodymyr Fesenko summed up.
Earlier Fesenko said that there is no doubt that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is the person of 2022, and Ukraine is the country of the year. The Ukrainian president has become the personification of resilience and leadership, and the people – the invincibility of the spirit.
“The most important thing is not to seem, but to be. In addition to the personal human charm and political charm of President Zelensky, there is also this sincerity, organicity. Not to seem, but to be – this is a very accurate assessment. This is what attracts attention to him, causes respect for him. Yes, you know, it used to be such a common moment to celebrate: “Well, he’s an actor, he knows how to be”. But people see when this game is even outstanding, a very talented game, and when it is a real position, real emotion, real action,” he said.
The political scientist also commented on the assertion that Zelensky went through certain stages of formation and grew into the president.
“Undoubtedly. This, by the way, is also noted by many commentators. This year (2022 – ed.) we saw the new Zelensky in many ways. But, you know, news doesn’t come out of nowhere. I think there were prerequisites. There were very big underestimations of Volodymyr Zelensky. I personally heard a few hours before the start of the war that, they say, he will run away from Kyiv, he is weak. But it turned out not. I think that he had this, there was this courage, recklessness in a good way, the desire to take risks and move forward. He was the leader in his team. Without his leadership potential, he would not have become the President of Ukraine in 2019. Yes, he had to study. Notice how his attitude towards Putin and Russia has changed. But most importantly, I think that both Ukraine and the world saw the new Zelensky, the new president of Ukraine, because the circumstances have changed,” says Fesenko.
He added that in 2022, President Zelensky was at the height of dramatic, difficult circumstances, in many ways even tragic. But the head of state turned out to be adequate to this circumstance, adequate to the challenges that were.
