Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is facing numerous challenges in the ongoing war with Russia, as highlighted in an article published by TIME. The piece explores the situation on the frontlines, international support, and Ukraine’s battle against corruption. The article’s subheading on TIME’s cover reads: “The Lonely Fight of Volodymyr Zelensky.”
According to the author, Simon Shuster, public support for Ukraine in the US has been steadily declining over the past few months, and Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington, DC, failed to reverse this trend. During the visit, Zelenskyy expressed his exhaustion from constantly trying to convince his allies that Ukraine can emerge victorious with their assistance. “Nobody believes in our victory like I do. Nobody,” Zelenskyy told TIME in an interview. He emphasized the toll this takes on his power and energy.
Shuster reveals that Zelenskyy’s usual optimism, sense of humor, and ability to lighten the atmosphere in meetings with banter and jokes have diminished in the second year of the war. A longtime member of Zelenskyy’s team disclosed, “Now he walks in, gets the updates, gives the orders, and walks out.”
Furthermore, a member of Zelenskyy’s team expressed that the president feels betrayed by his Western allies, who he believes have left Ukraine without the means to win the war, only to survive it.
Despite recent setbacks on the battlefield, Zelenskyy remains resolute and refuses to give up or seek peace. Shuster describes the president’s belief in Ukraine’s ultimate victory over Russia as hardened and verging on the messianic, which concerns some of his advisers. One of Zelenskyy’s closest aides admitted, “We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.”
The article also highlights the potential problems Ukraine may face this winter if Russia resumes attacks on its energy infrastructure and the challenges the Ukrainian military may encounter with the onset of winter. However, Zelenskyy adamantly rejects the idea of freezing the war, stating, “Freezing the war, to me, means losing it.”
Concerns about corruption are also discussed in the article. Zelenskyy’s commitment to fighting corruption has strained his relationship with many allies, while the US has proposed a list of anti-corruption reforms targeting top officials.
The author points out that corruption within the recruitment system, such as bribery for medical exemptions, has become widespread. In response, Zelenskyy dismissed the heads of draft offices across the country to demonstrate his commitment to combatting bribery. However, this decision backfired as recruitment nearly ground to a halt without leadership, and replacements were difficult to find due to the tarnished reputation of draft offices.
Zelenskyy’s current mission is more challenging than before. Initially, he aimed to maintain global sympathy, but now he must convince world leaders, during foreign trips and presidential phone calls, that supporting Ukraine aligns with their own national interests. This task becomes increasingly difficult as global crises multiply.
Simon Shuster, the author of the article, spent two weeks in the President’s Office, conducting interviews with Zelenskyy and his entourage. He wrote the article for the May issue of TIME, and Zelenskyy appeared on the cover. Additionally, Shuster plans to release a book about Zelenskyy titled “When the World Is Watching: Volodymyr Zelensky and the War in Ukraine” in 2023.
The article was initially recommended by Andrii Yermak, the head of the Office of the President, on Telegram but was later deleted.
