3: 6. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born in 1978, represents a modern, non-ethnic definition of Ukrainian identity. Zelenskyy is a Jewish, native Russian-speaking former comedian and successful media e

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John Batchelor

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🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

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Summary

6. Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The Evolution of Ukrainian National Identity Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born in 1978, represents a modern, non-ethnic definition of Ukrainian identity. Zelenskyy is a Jewish, native Russian-speaking former comedian and successful media entrepreneur who spent a substantial part of his career in Moscow. His identity showcases that being Ukrainian is now primarily a national affiliation based on commitment to the state, transcending language or ethnic background. Zelenskyy entered politics as an outsider because the old guard had failed to bring prosperity or resolve the war in Donbas and the Crimea crisis. Russian propaganda attempts to label him as a neo-Nazi, but his background contradicts this. He initially believed that his native Russian language and past work in Moscow would enable him to successfully negotiate a peace treaty or resolution with Vladimir Putin.

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0:00.0	I'm John Batchew with Professor Eugene Finkel, intent to destroy Russia's 200-year quest to dominate Ukraine.
0:06.0	These are the facts that explain how confusing the Ukraine war can be, depending on point of view.
0:14.0	I ask the professor now to introduce Volodymyr Zelensky, born in 1978 the prominent president of Russia now, of Ukraine now,
0:24.4	against the Russian invader. He is a Jew, and he's an entertainer, a comedian, who spent
0:31.5	most of his career in Russia. He speaks excellent Russian. What do we need to know about him,
0:36.7	Professor, that explains his patriotism?
0:40.6	Right. So, so the Lansky, and you mentioned the key facts of his biography.
0:46.5	The Lansky is a very unusual Ukrainian president. So he's not a politician, right? He is a, he is a
0:52.5	comedian, he's an actor, but, you know, we tend to forget that he is
0:56.1	also a very successful media entrepreneur. He had his own company. He produced films and shows.
1:05.3	So he's not just a clown as, you know, Russian propaganda likes to present him. He's also a very successful businessman.
1:12.6	He also a native Russian speaker. He speaks excellent Russian because it's his mother tongue.
1:18.6	He comes from southern from southern Ukraine. He's Jewish and he's you and you absolutely right. He spent a large chunk of his career in Moscow.
1:31.9	So what it shows you is that is that there are many ways to be Ukrainian and being Ukrainian
1:39.2	does not mean being ethnically Ukrainian or speaking Ukrainian.
1:46.0	Essentially, what we see in Ukraine since 1991, but especially since 2014,
1:53.0	is that Ukrainian becomes more national affiliation rather than ethnic.
1:57.0	Ukrainian become a national identity.
2:00.0	Why it doesn't really matter which language you speak or,
2:03.0	you know, what your religion is. The key is a commitment to Ukraine as a state. So, you know,
2:10.8	maybe somewhat in parallel with the U.S. identity, right, where it doesn't really matter
2:16.3	where you come from as long as you consider yourself
	...

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