Overview

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky is the President of Ukraine; serving since May 2019. A former comedian and actor who starred in the television series "Servant of the People" (playing a teacher who accidentally becomes president); Zelensky won the 2019 presidential election in a landslide against incumbent Petro Poroshenko. He became a central figure in American politics when a July 25; 2019 phone call between him and Donald Trump became the basis for Trump's first impeachment. Trump pressured Zelensky to publicly announce investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's connections to Burisma; while withholding $391 million in congressionally approved military aid as leverage. Zelensky became a global wartime leader after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24; 2022; rallying international support; securing billions in Western military and economic aid; and refusing American offers to evacuate with the famous line "I need ammunition; not a ride." His name appeared in the Pandora Papers; revealing offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands; Belize; and Cyprus; though he stated the assets predated his presidency.

Key Affiliations

Controversies & Concerns

Related Investigations (2)

Known Associates & Connections

Sources & Documentation

2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports