(Dan Tri) – The President of Ukraine’s straightforward words have called for support for his country during wartime, but have also many times offended allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska visited the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial during a trip to the US this month (Photo: Getty).
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s wartime leader, has proven himself a media expert capable of rallying Western public opinion to his side, and winning significant support for the embattled country.
But there is another Volodymyr Zelensky: A president with an actor background, a political outsider who can hurl blunt criticism at his biggest allies, risking losing support for Ukraine.
Both sides of Mr. Zelensky were shown during the President’s recent visits to New York and Washington D.C.
On the podium at the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Zelensky criticized some European allies for arguing over Ukraine’s grain issue, saying that they `showed solidarity in the political arena` but were actually doing it.
Poland, one of Ukraine’s most ardent supporters but also a controversial country over the grain issue, responded.
Two days after his speech at the United Nations, the President of Ukraine showed his endearing and grateful side again when he visited Washington D.C., deeply thanking the United States and Poland for their support.
Mr. Zelensky and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland – the country that is arguing with Ukraine over the grain issue (Photo: AFP).
According to Ukrainian political observers, Mr. Zelensky’s mixture of angry and praising statements reflects his desire to show strength at home and gratitude abroad.
Mr. Zelensky’s style in wartime media work is always risky.
But they can also annoy politicians and professional diplomats from other countries who also have to pay attention to their own people.
Angry words
Mr. Zelensky, with a background as a comedian and performance artist, became the center of attention when the Russian military launched the campaign in February 2022.
Over the past 18 months, he has upset UN officials by saying the Security Council should act or consider dissolving itself.
During the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Lithuania in July, Mr. Zelensky took to social networks to criticize NATO allies for their `unprecedented and unreasonable` delay in promoting
Those words angered Mr. Biden and his closest advisers.
Mr. Zelensky’s call to accelerate Ukraine’s admission to NATO has created friction with allies such as President Biden (Photo: Getty).
The British Defense Minister at that time, Mr. Ben Wallace, also told Mr. Zelensky to remember that he `must convince skeptical politicians in other countries that supporting Ukraine is worth doing.`
After those reminders, the next day, Mr. Zelensky called the NATO summit `a meaningful success for Ukraine.`
`Of course, especially in wartime, everything becomes black and white, and when there are things you don’t like or statements that don’t support you, you react in quite an intense way,` said one official.
Words of gratitude
The same Mr. Zelensky demonstrated his growing political understanding through his visit to Washington, D.C.
Speaking before the US Congress when the more pressing issue for lawmakers was the impending government shutdown, Mr. Zelensky focused on the message of what the US would benefit from helping Ukraine.
Senator Todd Young, a strong supporter of Ukraine, praised Mr. Zelensky for emphasizing that reducing US support for Ukraine would help America’s opponents.
`He said quite clearly that they will be emboldened if we do not continue to support the Ukrainians in taking a stance on this front,` Mr. Young said.
Leading a country in conflict is always difficult, while Mr. Zelensky faces additional pressure because Ukraine depends too heavily on allies for weapons, intelligence and finance.
Mr. Zelensky has expressed frustration with the pace of arms transfers from some Western governments.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Zelensky’s message generally helped Ukraine, starting from the first day of the conflict.
That evening, speaking online at an emergency meeting of EU leaders, the Ukrainian President told them: `This may be the last time you see me alive.`
Since then, Mr. Zelensky and his excellent media team have regularly released articles and videos showing the Ukrainian leader as a strong but sympathetic person with the people, always wearing a green military uniform and
Mr. Zelensky’s messages also focused on the Ukrainian people who are experiencing great disruption in their lives due to the conflict.
In a social media video filmed in Kiev on Ukraine’s Independence Day in August, Zelensky thanked soldiers, teachers, nurses, children and engineers.
`I’m grateful to all those who are waiting for their loved ones to return from the front lines, all those who pray for them every day, all those who call or send important messages like ‘How are you?