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As conflict in Ukraine continues, people have taken an interest in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The president was an actor and comedian in his days before running for office.
Because of his history, this means there’s a number of strange situations one can find this world leader in.
Including one from 2017 that eerily comments on current events.
Back when he was a comedian, the Ukrainian president #Zelensky made this comedy skit where he was playing the president, accepting a call from German Chancellor Merkel to welcome #Ukraine into the EU. Or not.\n\nYesterday, he officially applied to the EU.pic.twitter.com/VfSCcUTDUb— UkraineStream \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@UkraineStream \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646134448
In the clip above, Zelenskyy plays a fictional version of the President of Ukraine, receiving a call from the German Chancellor at the time, Angela Merkel.
He’s told that his country has been accepted to the European Union (EU). His character is ecstatic at the news.
However, things change toward the end of the clip, and Zelenskyy’s character is frustrated yet again. The quote at the 1:12 mark from Zelenskyy’s character is rather prescient.
The clip was a reference to the country’s long running desire to join the EU, a position that Zelenskyy made one of his political priorities when running for office.
Now, as Russia continues to try and invade the country, Zelenskyy has submitted a formal application for Ukraine’s inclusion in the EU.
An amazing turn of events!
This is just surreal, who would have thought a comedian would become a great leader and do a skit like this about his country joining the EU. A trapeze artist known for hiding in fridges, doesn't seem in the same league.— Quentin Colborn (@Quentin Colborn) 1646218334
This guy is amazing. Makes you realise just how low the bar is for politicians in our country.https://twitter.com/ukrainestream/status/1498622610355200012\u00a0\u2026— Ryan (@Ryan) 1646218146
Just to put a smile on your face. Zelensky as President of Ukraine, when he was not President yet.https://twitter.com/ukrainestream/status/1498622610355200012\u00a0\u2026— Paul van der Meer (@Paul van der Meer) 1646220118
haha super, enjoyed it a lot haha amazing he is, in acting and in real both he is just great— \u201d\u00b0\u00ba\u00d7C\u044f\u04af\u03c1\u0442\u03c3S\u043d\u03c3\u0442s\u00d7\u00ba\u00b0\u201d (@\u201d\u00b0\u00ba\u00d7C\u044f\u04af\u03c1\u0442\u03c3S\u043d\u03c3\u0442s\u00d7\u00ba\u00b0\u201d) 1646139635
This is just surreal, who would have thought a comedian would become a great leader and do a skit like this about his country joining the EU. A trapeze artist known for hiding in fridges, doesn't seem in the same league.— Quentin Colborn (@Quentin Colborn) 1646218334
Prior to any of this, Zelenskyy studied law at the Kyiv National Economic University. During his time as a comedian, he acted in a TV show called Servant of the People, where he played a schoolteacher who’s elected President after his anti-corruption rant goes viral online.
In a turn of reality reflecting fiction, after the show ended, Zelenskyy ran for president on an anti-corruption platform. He won in a landslide, getting 73.2% of the vote in the second round.
Since then, he’s been pursuing membership in the EU for his country, and attempted to end the conflict in Donbas and stop the Russia-sponsored separatist movement.
Now with Russia invading, Zelenskyy is pushing hard for alliances to help him end the crisis.
There you go again showing a huge amount of ignorance. Ukrainians have wanted to join the EU for ages. It's in their constitution added when joining NATO was added. Zelenskyy was elected on a campaign that included pursuing EU membership.— walthamfrank (@walthamfrank) 1646280738
Ukrainians couldn't have known the full weight of the stakes in their 2019 election, but they surely elected the right man to meet this moment.— AuntSophie \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@AuntSophie \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646177583
Putin got pissed at Ukraine for wanting to join EU and guess what Zelensky did recently— Shih-Yu Liu (@Shih-Yu Liu) 1646283781
#SlavaUkraini #EUStrong— Marjolein/Kaiser \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b (@Marjolein/Kaiser \ud83d\ude37 \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b) 1646219023
#PresidentZelenskyy: "We have a desire to see our #children alive. Yesterday 16 children were killed." "We are fighting for our lives, for our freedoms, and now we are fighting for our survival." #Ukraine needs the Worlds help. #KharkivMassacre #Catholics #churches #JesusChristhttps://twitter.com/CNN/status/1498646910390972422\u00a0\u2026— TylerIgnatowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@TylerIgnatowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646178687
Zelenskyy has received a lot of praise for his acts during the Russia conflict. However, it is unknown if it will be enough to get Ukraine special entry into the EU.
The last country to join was Croatia in 2013, a decade after they had applied for membership.