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7 years ago today, Zelensky took office. His legacy is now tied to war
The Kyiv Independent ^ | May 20, 2026 | Kateryna Denisova

Posted on 05/20/2026 12:45:12 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Riding a wave of political momentum in 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a showman turned wartime leader, could have hardly imagined the path his presidency would take.

Some argue that Zelensky's 2019 election was less of an endorsement of his political platform, a populist one, rather a rejection of the old entrenched elite seen as ineffective and corrupt.

Years later, Zelensky still faces the domestic challenges that confronted his predecessors — issues he once promised to resolve. On the international stage, however, he has amassed significant support for Ukraine, actively working to maintain global backing as his country defends itself against a full-scale Russian onslaught.

While his foreign policy is widely seen as competent and adaptive, experts view his domestic governance as a weaker spot.

"Volodymyr Zelensky is a very controversial figure who can't be judged in black-and-white terms. He reflects the contradictions within Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian political process," political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told the Kyiv Independent.

"Zelensky continues to embody the conflicting moods of Ukrainian society, both on corruption and on the war."

(Excerpt) Read more at kyivindependent.com ...


TOPICS: Ukraine
KEYWORDS: absurdzeeping; beggarofkiev; bobwillstroll; foreigntrollsonfr; greengrifter; littledictator; proxywar; ukraine; welfarewar; zestinky

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1 posted on 05/20/2026 12:45:12 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Only 5 more years to tie with Hitler.


2 posted on 05/20/2026 12:48:44 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: MinorityRepublican

It would probably be easier for Zelensky to “solve” the problems of Ukraine if Russia hadn’t illegally invaded and raped the country.

Let’s help Z kill a lot more Russians and then send them back across the border, as happened in Afghanistan.


3 posted on 05/20/2026 12:49:51 PM PDT by Bob Wills is still the king
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To: MinorityRepublican

kiss, kiss, kiss — Zwelynskyy’s fans.


4 posted on 05/20/2026 12:59:57 PM PDT by bobbo666
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To: mass55th
Only 5 more years to tie with Hitler.

Not true. Hitler did not serve as many years as Putin.
5 posted on 05/20/2026 1:00:22 PM PDT by adorno ( )
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

But everything Zelensky does is in service to the global crime syndicate who command him.

What kind of person are you that you support the most evil, vile group ever to walk this earth?

Why do you advocate for killing innocent Russian citizens?


6 posted on 05/20/2026 1:00:34 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

Well, get on a plane and go. No one is stopping you.


7 posted on 05/20/2026 1:04:04 PM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: Bob Wills is still the king
It would probably be easier for Zelensky to “solve” the problems of Ukraine if Russia hadn’t illegally invaded and raped the country.

Exactly!

If not for the invasion, he would've had a domestic issues record from which the Ukrainian voters could judge him.

As it is, Zelensky has done an amazing job at running the war and getting the assistance to battle Russia to what looks like a victory in the near future.

Russia invaded and now, they have just another run-of-the-mill military (except for the nukes), and an economy which is in collapse mode. On the other hand, Ukraine is now recognized as the strongest military force in ALL of Europe, which is the opposite of what's happened to Russia's military.
8 posted on 05/20/2026 1:06:28 PM PDT by adorno ( )
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To: MinorityRepublican

“Zelensky continues to embody the conflicting moods of Ukrainian society, both on corruption and on the war.” He’s good at that.


9 posted on 05/20/2026 1:08:55 PM PDT by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthbym because + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: Bob Wills is still the king

American patriots want an end to this war.

American patriots, with President Trump, want neither Russians nor Ukrainians to die.

Do you prefer to pick up your IQ score in person, or that it be mailed to you?


10 posted on 05/20/2026 1:15:56 PM PDT by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“a showman turned wartime leader, ..”

A depraved, corrupted individual who played the piano with his penis on national TV,...says alot about his supporters.


11 posted on 05/20/2026 1:46:31 PM PDT by delta7
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To: MinorityRepublican

His legacy is not tied to war. His legacy is tied to corruption, funneling massive amounts of foreign funds into his and his cronies’ bank accounts and suspension of elections.


12 posted on 05/20/2026 1:59:25 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: adorno

Peanut gallery interference.


13 posted on 05/20/2026 2:06:30 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: MinorityRepublican

And his term in office has long since expired. Like all true dictators, he refused to step down at the end of his term.

His friends have profited from the war, and he has blocked any negotiated settlement.


14 posted on 05/20/2026 2:08:06 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Trump?


15 posted on 05/20/2026 2:33:26 PM PDT by Dat
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To: PAR35
And his term in office has long since expired.

Zelensky canceled elections, making him dictator, and is likely to end up as president of Ukraine for a longer period unelected than elected.

16 posted on 05/20/2026 3:11:56 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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