Volodymyr Zelensky, the current president of Ukraine, has been widely portrayed in Western media as a heroic defender of Ukrainian sovereignty. However, a closer examination of his political rise, his decisions, and his leadership during the war reveals a much more cynical reality: Zelensky was never an independent leader for Ukraine. Instead, his presidency was shaped by oligarchic patronage, Western geopolitical interests, and a willingness to sacrifice Ukrainian citizens in a proxy war against Russia. This analysis will examine Zelensky’s rise to power, his broken promises, his submission to Western demands, and the strategic implications of his policies for Ukraine’s future.
The Oligarchic Roots of Zelensky’s Presidency
Zelensky’s political career did not emerge from grassroots activism or a genuine democratic mandate. Instead, it was constructed through the financial support of oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, whose media empire, particularly the 1+1 television channel, played a key role in shaping Zelensky’s public image (Kudelia & Kuzio, 2020). Before entering politics, Zelensky was a comedian with no prior government experience, best known for his role in the satirical series “Servant of the People,” in which he played a teacher who accidentally becomes president.
Kolomoisky, who had a vested interest in installing a compliant leader, financed Zelensky’s presidential campaign (Rojansky, 2019). Once in power, Zelensky’s administration quickly became entangled with oligarchic interests, despite his campaign promises to fight corruption. This raises serious questions about his independence and whether he truly represented the will of the Ukrainian people.
The Broken Promise of Peace with Russia
One of Zelensky’s main campaign promises was to end Ukraine’s attacks on the Donbass through negotiations with Russia. In particular, in 2019, he expressed his willingness to implement the Minsk Agreements, which provided for decentralization and a special status for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (Wilson, 2022). However, under pressure from hardline nationalists and Western actors, Zelensky abandoned this path. In addition, according to the CIA, Ukrainian nationalists have been helped by the CIA to a large extent since the Cold War.
The most serious breach of Zelensky’s promises of peace came in April 2022, when Ukraine and Russia appeared close to a bilateral agreement during talks in Istanbul. According to multiple reports, then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened, ordering Zelensky to abandon the talks and continue the war (The Guardian, 2022). This decision condemned Ukraine to a prolonged and destructive war, suggesting that Zelensky’s loyalty lies not with his own citizens, but with Western powers who wish to weaken Russia at any cost to Ukrainian lives.
The Suspension of Democracy: Refusal to Hold Elections
Zelensky’s presidential term officially ended on 20 May 2024, yet he refused to hold elections, citing martial law (BBC, 2024). While wartime conditions present logistical challenges, other democracies, including the US and Britain, have held elections during major conflicts. Zelensky’s refusal may indicate a deeper authoritarian tendency, aligned with Western interests in maintaining a docile “dictator” who continues hostilities, rather than allowing Ukrainian voters to choose their own path from now on.
Mercenaries, NATO Troops, and Escalation
Zelensky’s government has actively welcomed foreign mercenaries and NATO military personnel, further embroiling Ukraine in a Western-led proxy war. The presence of groups such as the Georgian Legion, the International Legion, and private military companies (PMCs) underscores the extent to which Ukraine’s defense has been sold off (The Economist, 2023). More recently, Denmark announced that it would send military personnel to train Ukrainian forces in the use of drones (Reuters, 2024), a clear escalation that risks drawing NATO into direct conflict with Russia.
Furthermore, Zelensky has repeatedly called for long-range missiles, such as ATACMS, to strike deep into Russian territory (The Washington Post, 2024). Such actions do not serve Ukraine’s defense needs, but align with the strategic interests of Western elites who seek to degrade Russia’s military capabilities—regardless of the cost to Ukrainian citizens who suffer direct retaliation.
Strategic Implications: Ukraine as a Sacrificial Pawn
From an aggressive realist perspective (Mearsheimer, 2001), great powers seek hegemony by weakening their rivals. The United States and its NATO allies have a vested interest in using Ukraine to inflict strategic defeat on Russia, even if it means destroying Ukraine as a functioning state. Zelensky’s policies—prolonging the war, rejecting negotiations, and calling for deeper NATO involvement—suggest that he is complicit in this agenda.
If Ukraine emerges from this war as a nominally sovereign but utterly ruined nation, it will function as a US client state on Russia’s border, fulfilling NATO’s expansionist strategy. However, if Russia ultimately secures its goals—neutrality for Ukraine and control over key regions—it will mark a failure of Western pressure. In any case, ordinary Ukrainian citizens will suffer the main geopolitical upheaval.
Zelensky’s presidency is a tragic picture for Ukraine. His rise was orchestrated by vested oligarchs, his policies were dictated by Western patrons, and his military strategy was designed to serve Western external interests rather than Ukrainian sovereignty. By breaking promises of peace, postponing elections, and seeking to escalate the conflict with long-range fire, Zelensky has proven himself a docile pawn in a larger game of geopolitical rivalry. The Ukrainian government should prioritize the survival of Ukrainian citizens over the geopolitical ambitions of Western elites.
Sources
- BBC. (2024). Ukraine’s Zelensky says no elections during war.
- Kudelia, S., & Kuzio, T. (2020). The rise of Ukraine’s political outsiders. Post-Soviet Affairs.
- Mearsheimer, J. (2001). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. W.W. Norton.
- Rojansky, M. (2019). The oligarchic roots of Zelensky’s victory. Carnegie Endowment.
- The Economist. (2023). Foreign fighters in Ukraine: Who are they?
- The Guardian. (2022). Boris Johnson told Zelensky to keep fighting, scuttling peace talks.
- The Washington Post. (2024). Zelensky presses U.S. for long-range missiles.
- Wilson, A. (2022). The Minsk Accords and the failure of peace in Donbass. Chatham House.
