From New York Times, I'm Michael Obaro. This is the Daily.

President Zelensky has stood down and stood up to and stared down President Putin.

President Putin must be astounded, must be surprised, must be really disappointed.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, no single figure has antagonized Vladimir Putin

as effectively or persistently as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has emerged as a hero in his nation and around the world.

Whose defiant videos and speeches have inspired the West and by his own account

made him the target of assassination by Russia.

Zelensky says he is Russia's number one military target and that his family is number two.

Today, my colleague, Moscow bureau chief Anton Trionovsky,

explains exactly what it is about Zelensky and his rise to power that poses such a unique threat to Putin.

It's Tuesday, March 8th.

Anton, how did you first get to know Volodymyr Zelensky?

I got to know him the way most people in both Russia and Ukraine got to know him

which is watching his stuff on TV.

He had this Saturday night live type show on Ukrainian TV that started airing in 2005

and he also had, of course, his breakout hit sitcom called Servant of the People,

which first aired in 2015 and in which he plays a schoolteacher.

Who suddenly goes viral on social media and becomes the president of Ukraine.

In Russia, you mean the president of Ukraine?

Yes.

Good morning, Mr. President.

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