Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (born January 25, 1978) is a Ukrainian politician, former comedian and actor who has served as President of Ukraine since May 2019.

Born in Kryvyi Rih in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Zelenskyy studied law at the Kryvyi Rih Institute of Economics before turning to entertainment. He co-founded the Kvartal 95 comedy studio and starred in multiple television projects, including Servant of the People, in which a fictional high school teacher becomes president.

Transitioning to politics, Zelenskyy formed the Servant of the People party ahead of the 2019 presidential election. He won the presidency in a landslide in the second round, defeating incumbent Petro Poroshenko, while his party won a parliamentary majority later that year.

Since taking office, Zelenskyy has focused on anti-corruption reforms, economic modernization, and European integration, while also leading Ukraine through the 2022 Russian invasion. He has pursued close ties with Western partners, sought European Union candidate status and supported NATO cooperation, and coordinated international relief and sanctions. His tenure has been marked by wartime governance, ongoing negotiations for ceasefires and security guarantees, and domestic debates over governance and media freedom.

Zelenskyy is married to Olena Zelenska, a former screenwriter and First Lady, and they have two children, Oleksandra and Kyrylo.