Volodymyr Zelenskyy, American Hero

The comedian turned defender of democracy has emerged as an unlikely hero to his people … and ours. It’s as much a comment on Zelenskyy’s bravery as it is our cynicism about our own leaders.

Last week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed us who he is: a leader willing to risk his life to stand in the cut with his people. Indeed, he’s survived three assassination plots in the last week alone. His leadership and sacrifice have been truly extraordinary. 

In response to American offers to evacuate him and his family from Ukraine early in the Russian invasion, he dropped a line to American officials that will echo into history: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM

⚡️Ukraine’s Zelensky posts a new video of himself and his team outside the presidential administration in Kyiv’s government quarter after rumors in Russian media that he’d fled. “We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine.”

In that moment, Volodymyr Zelenskyy cemented himself in history as a hero to his people — and to ours. 

Americans love a hero. And make no mistake, Zelenskyy’s leadership has been heroic. But his cultural beatification in the US says as much about him as it says about us. We appreciate him so much because we can’t imagine an American leader doing the same thing.