Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s actor president, prepares for greatest role yet

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for ‘day of unity’ for February 16, the day some believe Russia could invade

Western leaders consider Russia’s troop build-up to be the worst threat to the continent’s security since the Cold War

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting positions on the frontline with pro-Russian militants in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, in December. Photo: EPA

Published: 12:17pm, 15 Feb 2022Updated: 1:16pm, 15 Feb 2022

In his before life – as an actor on a popular satirical TV show – he was the accidental president, a history teacher whose online rant about corruption went viral and unexpectedly catapulted him to Ukraine’s highest office.

Now, Volodymyr Zelensky is starring in what could turn out to be the greatest dramatic role of his life. Only it’s for real, as the boyish-looking 44-year-old stares down the barrel of what could be the most serious geopolitical conflict since the end of the Cold War.

No one knows for sure whether the 130,000 troops that Russian President Vladimir Putin has amassed near Ukraine’s borders means that Moscow – for years frustrated at Nato’s eastward expansion and Kyiv’s desire to join the military alliance as well as align more closely with democracies in the European Union – will invade Ukraine.

The Kremlin has dismissed as “hysteria” the White House’s claim that Russia could invade its neighbour and former partner in the now-defunct Soviet Union “any day now”.

Zelensky has been pushing back against the rhetoric coming from Western allies that an invasion is imminent. But Monday, he delivered his most sobering message yet to Ukrainians that they had better prepare for a Russian attack.

“We are being told that February 16 will be the day of the attack. We will make it the day of unity. The relevant decree has already been signed, ” he said in his speech. “On this day, we will hoist national flags, put on blue and yellow ribbons and show the world our unity. We have one great European desire: we want freedom and (are) ready to fight for it. 14,000 defenders and civilians killed in this war are watching us from the sky. And we will not betray their memory.”