President Zelensky of Ukraine used his first address to a joint session of Congress to try to paint himself as a unifying figure who will put the country’s turmoil behind him. He also suggested Democrats have no dignity and took a few jabs at President Trump, whom he said is incapable of being presidential.
Let’s start with the obvious: Zelensky is a risk-taker. He’s made that clear throughout his political career, and it’s a style that has served him well. He has a history of making unexpected moves and breaking conventional wisdom in Ukraine. This can be seen in his approach to negotiations with Russia over Crimea, where he initially accepted Moscow’s annexation of the territory after winning power in April, even though many Ukrainians would have preferred for him to push back against Russian aggression more forcefully.
In addition, he has been willing to enact unconventional policies such as banning plastic bags from stores and introducing special tax breaks for women who give birth (although most people agree these were not successful).
Zelensky Dressed Up As A Warrior
Zelensky is a real risk-taker. He knows how to work a crowd. And he’s already putting the election behind him.
“We’ve seen an example of what happens when Republicans do not have dignity,” Zelensky said in his speech on Wednesday night after President Trump’s State of the Union address, where he was seated with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders. “They have no dignity.”
Zelensky was elected in the aftermath of Russia’s 2016 election interference, which included hacks on an election system vendor and the Democratic National Committee.
When asked about the impact of Russian influence during his campaign, Zelensky said it was “very painful” and that Ukraine has become a “victim” of Russia’s interference.
