History of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Timeline
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the current president of Ukraine, serving since 2019. Prior to his political career, he was a successful entertainer. His presidency has been largely defined by the Russo-Ukrainian war, including the annexation of Crimea and invasion of Donbas which started five years before he took office, and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning in 2022. He has become a prominent figure on the world stage due to his leadership during the ongoing conflict.
6 hours ago : Zelenskyy Responds to Russian Threats Amid Escalating Conflict and Victory Day Concerns.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Russia's claimed ceasefire attempts, dismissing them as insincere. Russia is increasing threats to Ukraine, particularly surrounding Victory Day, while continuing its offensive campaign. The conflict escalates, raising international concerns.
January 1978: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Born
In January 1978, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy was born, who would later become the sixth president of Ukraine.
1995: Joined Zaporizhzhia-Kryvyi Rih-Transit
In 1995, Zelenskyy was invited to join the Ukrainian KVN team "Zaporizhzhia-Kryvyi Rih-Transit", becoming a dance director and writer.
1997: Won KVN's Major League
In 1997, the "Zaporizhzhia-Kryvyi Rih-Transit" team, featuring Zelenskyy, won KVN's Major League in a tie with Armenian opponents.
1999: Kvartal 95 Performed in Ukrainian League
From 1999, Kvartal 95 performed in the highest open Ukrainian league of KVN, as well as the KVN Major League.
September 2003: Marriage to Olena Kiyashko
In September 2003, Volodymyr Zelenskyy married Olena Kiyashko, whom he had known from school and university. Olena Kiyashko worked as a scriptwriter at Kvartal 95.
September 2003: Kvartal 95 Studio Founded
In September 2003, Zelenskyy and others founded the Kvartal 95 Studio company in Kyiv.
2003: Zelenskyy and Kvartal 95 Left KVN
In 2003, Zelenskyy and Kvartal 95 left KVN due to disputes over money, political censorship, and an antisemitic insult against Zelenskyy.
2003: Kvartal 95 Performed in Ukrainian League
Until 2003, Kvartal 95 performed in the highest open Ukrainian league of KVN, as well as the KVN Major League.
July 2004: Birth of daughter Oleksandra
In July 2004, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Kiyashko welcomed their first child, a daughter named Oleksandra.
2005: Evening Kvartal Launched
In 2005, Kvartal 95 launched the "Evening Kvartal" comedy show on the Ukrainian TV channel Inter.
2006: Won Ukraine's Dancing with the Stars
In 2006, Zelenskyy won the first season of Ukraine's "Dancing with the Stars".
2008: Co-produced Svaty and starred in Love in the Big City
In 2008, Zelenskyy began co-producing the sitcom "Svaty" and starred in the romantic comedy "Love in the Big City".
2010: Love in the Big City sequel
In 2010, Zelenskyy starred in the sequel to "Love in the Big City".
2011: Office Romance. Our Time Film
In 2011, Zelenskyy co-wrote, co-produced, and played the male protagonist in the film "Office Romance. Our Time."
2011: Presented Russia's X Factor
In 2011, Zelenskyy presented Russia's "X Factor" with Filipp Kirkorov and Alla Pugacheva.
2012: Kvartal 95 Returned to 1+1
In 2012, Kvartal 95 returned to the Ukrainian TV channel 1+1.
2012: Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon and 8 First Dates
In 2012, Zelenskyy co-produced "Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon" and played Napoleon, also co-writing, co-producing, and playing the male lead in "8 First Dates".
January 2013: Birth of son Kyrylo
In January 2013, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Kiyashko's son, Kyrylo, was born.
2013: Make the Comedian Laugh Sold Internationally
By 2013, "Make the Comedian Laugh", a show format by Kvartal 95, had been sold into China, Italy, and Finland.
2013: Presented New Year's Eve Show on Russia-1
In 2013, Zelenskyy presented the New Year's Eve show on the Russia-1 channel with Russian comedian Maxim Galkin.
August 2014: Performance for Ukrainian Troops and Donation
In August 2014, Volodymyr Zelenskyy performed for Ukrainian troops in Mariupol. Later that month, his studio donated ₴1 million to the Ukrainian army.
August 2014: Spoke Out Against Banning Russian Artists
In August 2014, Zelenskyy spoke out against the intention of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to ban Russian artists from Ukraine.
2014: Performed for Ukrainian Soldiers and Donations to the Army
From 2014, Kvartal 95 visited the war zone to perform for Ukrainian soldiers and donated ₴1 million to the Ukrainian army, leading to calls for a ban on Zelenskyy's works in Russia.
2014: Daughter's role in "8 New Dates"
In 2014, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's daughter, Oleksandra, played the role of Sasha, the protagonist's daughter, in his film "8 New Dates".
2014: Love in the Big City sequel
In 2014, Zelenskyy starred in another sequel to "Love in the Big City".
2014: Voice of Paddington Bear
In 2014, Zelenskyy voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dub of "Paddington".
2015: Began Starring in Servant of the People
In 2015, Zelenskyy began co-producing and starring in the television series "Servant of the People", playing the role of the president of Ukraine.
2015: Blacklisting Russian Artists
Since 2015, Ukraine has blacklisted some Russian artists and media deemed part of "information warfare", barring them from entering Ukraine.
2016: Daughter's appearance on "Make the Comedian Laugh: Kids"
In 2016, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's daughter, Oleksandra, participated in the show "Make the Comedian Laugh: Kids" and won ₴50,000.
2017: Voice of Paddington Bear
In 2017, Zelenskyy voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dub of "Paddington 2".
2017: Svaty Banned in Ukraine
In 2017, the sitcom "Svaty", co-produced by Zelenskyy, was banned in Ukraine after a Russian lead actor was blacklisted.
March 2018: Creation of Servant of the People political party
In March 2018, a political party with the same name as the TV show "Servant of the People" was created by employees of Kvartal 95.
December 2018: Statements on ending the war in Donbas
In December 2018, Zelenskyy stated that as president he would try to end the ongoing war in Donbas by negotiating with Russia, but not with the leaders of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR). He also mentioned the possibility of holding a referendum on the issue.
December 2018: Zelenskyy Announces Presidential Candidacy
On December 31, 2018, Zelenskyy announced his candidacy in the 2019 presidential election during the New Year's Eve address of then-president Petro Poroshenko.
2018: Net worth in 2018
In 2018, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's assets were valued at approximately ₴37 million, equivalent to about US$1.5 million.
2018: Me. You. He. She Movie
In 2018, Zelenskyy co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the romantic comedy "Me. You. He. She", and played the male protagonist.
2018: Teletriumph Awards
In 2018, Zelenskyy continued to receive the Teletriumph Awards, Ukraine's national television awards. Teletriumph 2018 remains the most recent award year.
2018: Royalties Received from Make the Comedian Laugh
In 2018, Zelenskyy mentioned receiving royalties from 21 countries for the show "Make the Comedian Laugh".
2018: Zelenskyy Performed for Post-Soviet Presidents
In 2018, Zelenskyy said he had performed in front of numerous presidents of post-Soviet countries, including his predecessors and Dmitry Medvedev.
2018: Love in the Big City 2 Banned in Ukraine
In 2018, Zelenskyy's "Love in the Big City 2" was banned in Ukraine due to the inclusion of a blacklisted Russian actor.
March 2019: Sitcom Svaty Unbanned in Ukraine
In March 2019, the sitcom "Svaty" co-produced by Zelenskyy, was unbanned in Ukraine after a previous ban in 2017.
April 2019: Views on Language and Artists
In April 2019, Zelenskyy expressed his opposition to targeting the Russian language in Ukraine and banning artists for their political opinions. He also stated that he was not against a Ukrainian language quota on radio and TV, while suggesting potential adjustments.
April 2019: Views Putin as an enemy
In April 2019, Zelenskyy stated that he regarded Putin "as an enemy."
June 2019: First Official Trip Abroad
In June 2019, Zelenskyy's first official trip abroad as president was to Brussels, where he met with EU and NATO officials.
June 2019: Zelenskyy Representative Clarifies Tariff Promises
In June 2019, a representative of Volodymyr Zelenskyy clarified that Zelenskyy never directly promised to lower communal tariffs, stating that campaign statements were "half-hinting" and "joking."
July 2019: Appointment to Tripartite Contact Group and Call with Putin
In July 2019, Zelenskyy appointed Leonid Kuchma as Ukraine's representative in the Tripartite Contact Group for a settlement in the conflict. On July 11, 2019, Zelenskyy had his first telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, urging him to enter EU-mediated talks and discussing prisoner exchange.
August 2019: Promise to Lift Moratorium on Exhuming Polish Graves
In August 2019, Zelenskyy promised to lift the moratorium on exhuming Polish mass graves in Ukraine after the previous government banned Polish exhumations of Polish victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
December 2019: Normandy Format Talks Resume
In December 2019, Russia and Ukraine agreed to resume talks mediated by France and Germany under the Normandy Format, marking Zelenskyy's first face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin.
2019: Evening Kvartal Seen by Over 85% of Ukrainians
By 2019, when Zelenskyy became president, over 85% of Ukrainians reported they had seen the "Evening Kvartal" show.
2019: Promises during the presidential campaign
During his 2019 presidential campaign, Zelenskyy promised to introduce bills aimed at combating corruption, including the removal of immunity for key officials, and to reform election laws. He also pledged to raise military personnel salaries to NATO standards.
2019: Became the sixth president of Ukraine
In 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy became the sixth president of Ukraine.
2019: Zelenskyy Wins Presidential Election
In 2019, Zelenskyy won the Ukrainian presidential election with 73.23 percent of the vote in the second round, defeating Petro Poroshenko.
2019: Draft Law on Election System
In 2019, after calling a snap Ukrainian parliamentary election, Zelenskyy proposed a draft law to hold the election with closed lists because the 60-day term to the snap election did not "leave any chances for the introduction of this system," although he had earlier stated that he preferred elections with open list election ballots. However, this bill was rejected by parliament.
2019: End of Airing of Servant of the People
In 2019, the TV series "Servant of the People", in which Zelenskyy played a fictional Ukrainian president, stopped airing.
2019: Teletriumph Awards Cancelled
In 2019, the Teletriumph Awards were cancelled due to reorganizational efforts.
January 2020: Foreign Affairs Minister Unable to Answer Questions
On January 17, 2020, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prystaiko was unable to answer questions in parliament about the official agenda of the visit to Oman. On January 20, 2020, Prystaiko gave a briefing saying that he would explain everything about the visit when the time came.
January 2020: Shortened Trip to Oman and Plane Crash
On January 8, 2020, the Presidential Office announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was cutting short his trip to Oman owing to the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 plane crash in nearby Iran the same day. Rumors emerged regarding potential meetings with Russian representatives during the Oman visit, which were later dismissed as baseless.
March 2020: Honchurak's Resignation and Zelenskyy's Address
In March 2020, Prime Minister Honchurak resigned following a leaked audio recording where he appeared to belittle Zelenskyy's economic management, and was replaced by Denys Shmyhal. Zelenskyy addressed the Rada, recommitting to domestic and financial reforms.
July 2020: Formal Ceasefire Announced
In July 2020, Zelenskyy announced a formal ceasefire with the separatists, which was the more than twentieth such attempt since the war began.
September 2020: Zelenskyy's Approval Ratings Decline
By September 2020, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's approval ratings had fallen to less than 32 percent.
October 2020: Zelenskyy Supports Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh War
In October 2020, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke in support of Azerbaijan in regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh war between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
January 2021: Zelenskyy Positions Ukraine as Neutral in US-China Tensions
In January 2021, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with Axios that he does not perceive China as a geopolitical threat and disagrees with the United States' assertions that it represents one, positioning Ukraine as neutral in political and trade tensions between the two countries.
March 2021: Decree on Crimea Reintegration
On March 24, 2021, Zelenskyy signed Decree 117/2021 approving the strategy for de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
May 2021: Highest Trust Rating Among Ukrainian Presidents
In May 2021, a Rating Group poll gave Zelenskyy the highest trust rating out of all Ukrainian presidents, ranking him as the second-best president after Leonid Kuchma.
September 2021: U.S. Trip and Assassination Attempt on Aide
In September 2021, Zelenskyy visited the United States, engaging in talks with U.S. officials and participating in the opening of the Ukrainian House in Washington, D.C. An assassination attempt occurred in Ukraine on Serhiy Shefir, Zelenskyy's aide, while Zelenskyy was in the U.S.
October 2021: Approval Rating Update
In October 2021, Zelenskyy's approval rating had fallen to 24.7%, but was still above or on par with most of his predecessors' at the same point in their presidencies.
November 2021: Accusations of Coup Plot
On November 26, 2021, Zelenskyy accused Russia and Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov of backing a plan to overthrow his government.
December 2021: Call for Preemptive Action Against Russia
In December 2021, Zelenskyy called for preemptive action against Russia.
2021: Mykola Oleshchuk Headed the Ukrainian Air Force
In 2021, Mykola Oleshchuk headed the Ukrainian Air Force.
2021: Zelenskyy on Expert Council of UTVA
In 2021, Zelenskyy served on the "Expert Council" of the Ukrainian Television Academy (UTVA), to oversee the restructuring efforts of the Teletriumph Awards and the discussions for a new nomination process.
2021: Escalation of Tensions with Russia
In 2021, Zelenskyy's administration faced an escalation of tensions with Russia.
January 2022: Appeals for Calm Amid Invasion Warnings
On January 19, 2022, Zelenskyy appealed to Ukrainian citizens not to panic and urged the media to avoid mass hysteria. On January 28, Zelenskyy called on the West not to create panic over a potential Russian invasion.
February 2022: Ukraine Applies to Join the EU
In February 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally applied for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union.
February 2022: General Mobilization and Travel Ban
In February 2022, Zelenskyy ordered a general military mobilization and banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving Ukraine.
March 2022: Calls for Russians to Emigrate and Suspension of Political Parties
In March 2022, Zelenskyy called on Russians to emigrate from Russia and supported the suspension of 11 Ukrainian political parties with ties to Russia.
March 2022: Zelenskyy's statement on Holocaust
In March 2022, Zelenskyy said that both of his grandfather's parents had been killed after German troops burned their home to the ground during a massacre.
March 2022: Visit to Kyiv and Deepfake Attack
On March 15, 2022, the prime ministers of Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia visited Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy. On March 16, 2022, a deepfake appeared online of Zelenskyy calling on Ukrainian citizens to surrender to Russia.
March 2022: Awarded Order of the White Lion
On March 7, 2022, Czech president Miloš Zeman decided to award Zelenskyy with the highest state award of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion, for his bravery and courage.
March 2022: Kremlin Demands and Zelenskyy's Response
On March 7, 2022, the Kremlin demanded Ukraine's neutrality, recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, and recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states as conditions for ending the invasion. On March 8, Zelenskyy expressed willingness to discuss Putin's demands but not capitulate, proposing a new collective security agreement.
May 2022: Zelenskyy Criticizes EU Leaders for Being Soft on Russia
In May 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized EU leaders for their lenient stance on Russia, questioning how Russia could still earn almost a billion euros daily from energy sales despite the ongoing conflict.
May 2022: Denouncement of Kissinger's Suggestions and Stance on Crimea and Donbas
In May 2022, Zelenskyy denounced suggestions by Henry Kissinger regarding ceding control of Crimea and Donbas to Russia. He stated that Ukraine would not agree to peace until Russia agreed to return Crimea and the Donbas region to Ukraine. On May 3, 2022, Zelenskyy accused Turkey of having "double standards" by welcoming Russian tourists. On May 25, 2022, Zelenskyy said that he was satisfied with China's policy of staying away from the conflict.
May 2022: Duty to Remain in Ukraine
In May 2022, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian men of conscription age had a duty to remain in Ukraine.
May 2022: Pledge to fight until regaining territories
On 25 May 2022, Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine would continue fighting until it reclaims all of its territories.
June 2022: Zelenskyy Addresses African Union Representatives
On 20 June 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed African Union (AU) representatives via videoconference and invited African leaders to a virtual meeting, with limited attendance.
July 2022: Species Named After Zelenskyy
On 20 July 2022, Polish paleontologists named an extinct species of feather star, Ausichicrinites zelenskyyi, after Zelenskyy in recognition of his courage and bravery in defending Ukraine.
July 2022: Mercosur Trade Bloc Refuses Zelenskyy's Request to Speak
On 20 July 2022, South America's Mercosur trade bloc declined Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request to speak at their summit in Paraguay.
August 2022: China's Leverage Over Putin
In August 2022, Zelenskyy said China had the economic leverage to pressure Putin to end the war.
September 2022: Zelenskyy Warns of Putin's Nuclear Threats and Discusses Future Relations with Russia
On 25 September 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons "could be a reality." He warned of nuclear blackmail and stated that society would not forgive Russia for the lives taken.
October 2022: Zelenskyy Ranked Second Most Outstanding Ukrainian
In October 2022, a Rating Group poll ranked Zelenskyy the second most outstanding Ukrainian of all time, behind Taras Shevchenko.
December 2022: Bill to ban religious organizations affiliated with Russia
On 2 December 2022, Zelenskyy announced that his administration would submit a bill to the Verkhovna Rada to ban "religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation", referring to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), from operating in Ukraine.
December 2022: Zelenskyy Visits the United States and Secures Patriot Missiles
On 21 December 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first foreign trip since the war began, visiting the United States. During the visit he met with President Joe Biden and addressed Congress, the United States announced the supply of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
2022: Teletriumph Awards Suspended
As the Ukrainian Television Academy was finalizing its award nominations for 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and much of the celebrity class of Ukraine enlisted into the military, leading to the indefinite suspension of the Teletriumph Awards.
2022: Zelenskyy Calls on Russians to Resist Mobilization and Halts Peace Talks with Russia
In 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Russians to resist "criminal mobilization," citing disregard for Russian lives by commanders. Following Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions, Zelenskyy also declared that Ukraine would not engage in peace talks with Russia while Vladimir Putin remained president.
2022: Person of the Year
In 2022, both the British newspaper Financial Times and the US magazine Time recognized Zelenskyy as their Person of the Year.
January 2023: Russian Forces Secure Control of Soledar
On 16 January 2023, Russian forces secured control of Soledar following the Battle of Soledar, which had been decided by 31 December.
May 2023: Zelenskyy Calls for Putin to Stand Trial at the International Criminal Court
In May 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague, advocating for Vladimir Putin to face trial for war crimes committed during the war in Ukraine, including the crime of aggression.
October 2023: Zelenskyy Condemns Hamas Attack and Affirms Support for Two-State Solution
In October 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Hamas' attack on Israel and supported Israel's right to self-defense. He also affirmed Ukraine's support for the two-state solution, recognition of the State of Palestine, and offered humanitarian aid to Gaza.
October 2023: Zelenskyy Criticizes Countries Supporting Russia After Hroza Missile Attack
In October 2023, following the Hroza missile attack, Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized countries supporting Russia, condemning those who help Russia circumvent sanctions as criminals.
2023: Featured in Brad Paisley song
In 2023, Zelenskyy was featured in a spoken-word interlude in the song "Same Here" by American country music singer Brad Paisley.
2023: Zelenskyy Signs Law Imposing Prison Terms for Desertion
In early 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a new law prescribing up to 12 years in prison for desertion or failure to report for duty without a valid reason.
February 2024: Zelenskyy Replaces Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces
On 8 February 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced General Valery Zaluzhny with General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On 17 February, Syrskyi declared he would no longer hold Avdiivka.
April 2024: Zelenskyy Signs New Mobilization Law and Lowers Army Mobilization Age
In April 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a new mobilization law aimed at increasing troop numbers and also signed into law a measure lowering Ukraine's army mobilization age from 27 to 25.
May 2024: Scheduled End of Presidential Term (Delayed)
Zelenskyy's term was originally scheduled to end in May 2024, but the ongoing Russian invasion and martial law prevented the election, extending his term.
June 2024: Zelenskyy Accuses China of Supporting Russia and Undermining Peace Efforts
In June 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that China's support for Russia would prolong the war in Ukraine. He also claimed that Russia used Chinese diplomats to undermine the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.
June 2024: Zelenskyy Decommissions Lt. Gen. Yuriy Sodol and Appoints Brig. Gen. Andriy Hnatov
On 25 June 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy decommissioned Lt. Gen. Yuriy Sodol, who had been promoted in February to Syrskyi's now-vacant position, and appointed Brig. Gen. Andriy Hnatov as his replacement.
July 2024: Zelenskyy Criticizes Modi's Meeting with Putin Amidst Russian Missile Strikes
In July 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Narendra Modi's meeting with Putin on the same day that Russian missile strikes hit the children's hospital Okhmatdyt in Kyiv. He expressed disappointment, calling it a "devastating blow to peace efforts".
August 2024: Bill passed to ban religious organizations affiliated with Russia
In August 2024, the bill from December 2022, was passed by parliament and signed by Zelenskyy, after opposition parties protested the bill's delay. The law treats each parish individually and gives it nine months to cut ties with the UOC-MP, following which a special commission will inspect individual parishes and file lawsuits against non-compliant ones; the court can then decide on a ban in each case.
August 2024: Zelenskyy Decommissions Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk After Pilot's Death
On 30 August 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy decommissioned Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, head of the Ukrainian Air Force since 2021, following the death of F-16 pilot Col Oleksiy Mes during a Russian missile attack.
September 2024: Shmyhal Government Cabinet Tenders Resignations
On 4 September 2024, most of the Shmyhal Government cabinet tendered their resignations while Volodymyr Zelenskyy considered his reshuffle.
October 2024: Zelenskyy Unveils the Victory Plan for Ukraine
In October 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled the Victory Plan for Ukraine, comprising five points addressing geopolitical, military, economic, and national defense/safety aspects.
December 2024: Zelenskyy Resists Pressure to Lower Conscription Age
In December 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy resisted pressure from the Biden administration to lower the conscription age to 18 to replace Ukraine's battlefield losses.
2024: Ukraine Should Apply for EU and NATO Membership
During his presidential campaign, Zelenskyy's electoral programme claimed that Ukrainian NATO membership is "the choice of the Maidan and the course that is enshrined in the Constitution, in addition, it is an instrument for strengthening our defense capability." The program states that Ukraine should set the goal to apply for a NATO Membership Action Plan in 2024 and Zelenskyy "will do everything to ensure" that Ukraine can apply for European Union membership in 2024.
2024: Verkhovna Rada Decriminalizes First Instance Desertion for Soldiers
In late 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed bills decriminalizing soldiers' first instance of desertion or absence without leave if they returned to their duty station, and allowing these soldiers to return to military service.
February 2025: Ukraine to Introduce Special Military Contracts for Volunteers Aged 18 to 24
In February 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would introduce special military contracts for volunteers aged 18 to 24.
February 2025: Zelenskyy's contentions meeting with President Trump ends in cancellation
In February 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Trump at the White House to discuss an agreement for US mineral extraction rights in Ukraine. The meeting became heated, resulting in cancellations and Zelenskyy being evicted from the White House.
July 2025: Zelenskyy Submits New Draft Law to Restore Anti-Corruption Bodies' Independence
Following widespread protests, Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a new draft law aimed at restoring the independence of NABU and SAPO, safeguarding them from Russian influence. On 31 July 2025, the law was adopted by parliament and signed by Zelenskyy, indicating the state's responsiveness to public opinion.
July 2025: Zelenskyy Signs Controversial Law Weakening Anti-Corruption Bodies
On 22 July 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a controversial law that diminished the independence of Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), and increased the power of the government's Prosecutor General. Critics voiced concerns it might hinder Ukraine's EU efforts.
October 2025: Zelenskyy Welcomes US Sanctions Against Russian Oil Companies
In October 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his support for the US sanctions that were imposed on Russia's largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.
December 2025: Zelenskyy Addresses Potential Second Term
On 15 December 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in an interview with ZDF that he would run for president if the next election was held during the war, but was unsure if he would run in peacetime.
2025: Trump Cancels Budapest Summit After Zelenskyy Expresses Interest
In 2025, Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Budapest Summit in Hungary. Following Zelenskyy's confirmation of his interest in joining the summit meeting, Trump later cancelled the summit.
January 2026: Zelenskyy Supports Iranian Protests and Calls for International Action
In January 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced strong support for the anti-government protests in Iran, describing them as an 'uprising', and criticized the international community for "standing aside" while the protests were being "drowned in blood" at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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