Volodymyr Zelensky voted most influential Jew due to Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has found himself at the top of a poll called Top 50 Most Influential Jews of 2022 conducted by The Jerusalem Post. The former comedian-actor, who became Ukraine’s President in 2019, has become one of the most recognized world leaders since the Russia-Ukraine conflict ensued earlier this year.

Zelensky, being a former media personality, has shown his awareness of owning the spotlight. He has appeared, through video conference, at major events like the Cannes Film Festival to make people aware of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. In July 2022, the 44-year-old politician, along with his wife Olena Zelensky, appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine. 

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He has also drawn the admiration of world leaders like US President Joe Biden, who wrote in Time magazine, “The nations of the free world, inspired by the example of President Zelensky, are more united, more determined, and more purposeful than at any point in recent memory”.

Biden further wrote, “With the support of the US and our allies and partners, he has left his mark on history and proved to the world that Ukraine will long endure and its people will ultimately realize the democratic future they have long desired.”

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Despite being voted the most influential Jew in the world, Zelensky’s Jewish identity was never one of his highlights during his reign or his presidential campaign. A number of his family members were killed during the Holocaust. However, when asked about the importance of his Jewish identity during the presidential election, Zelensky had said, “the fact that I am a Jew is about the 20th question among my characteristics.”

Zelensky is widely regarded as an icon of putting up a fight against an entity that is far bigger and more powerful than Ukraine. His refusal to be evacuated from Kyiv, which was proposed by Biden himself, also earned him praise in the global community.