The victory of Vladimir Zelensky consists of several factors, but first of all it is woven out of despair and hatred - two states in which citizens of Ukraine are permanently immersed. For misery, poverty, chaos, ideological bias towards Nazism into which the country is plunged, in the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the population, politicians who, shuffling like cards in the deck, ruled the Ukrainian state throughout all post-Soviet years.
Extremely opposed physiognomy of irremovable officials and politicians is so nauseous that any vagabond character, by the mere fact of his non-belonging to the political pool in Ukraine, became the favorite of the presidential race. That is, the main motive of those who voted, at least the majority of them, - if only not for Poroshenko, since there will be no worse, and better - all of a sudden it will work out. Anyone: a restaurateur, tailor, train driver, or hairdresser would have an advantage in this election over the current president.
Are there those among those who cast their voices to Zelensky who believe in the outstanding political talents of the showman? I honestly do not think so. There is not even the slightest possibility to theoretically test the winner for its adequacy and effectiveness as the head of state. In this sense, it is precisely that the cat is in the bag, as Poroshenko called it during the election debate.
But it is obvious that the Russian-speaking Ukraine takes an actor whose comedic sketches are always performed in Russian, for their representative. Moreover, the victor himself, even before the first round (and then in the interval between the rounds), spoke, though rather carefully, about the need to ensure the protection of the Russian language. Given the frenzied persecution to which the latter is subjected in Ukraine, such words instantly provided Zelensky with support in the Russian regions, which became quite obvious from the very first results.
In addition, a very clear substitution has occurred. The political position of the actor was combined with a pronounced anti-Western line, which is conducted by his character from the television series “The Servant of the People”, in which Zelensky plays the role of the Ukrainian President Goloborodko. The fact that the party created by the election winner itself has the same name as the television series speaks of a deliberate electoral strategy: its authors counted on just such an effect in the hope of the voices of the Russian-speaking community.
Nevertheless, there is nothing anti-Western in Zelensky's rhetoric, even in trace. On the contrary, he very clearly declared his commitment to the European integration course and even raised the stakes, replying negatively to the question about the possibility of an amnesty for Donbas militias and granting Donetsk and Lugansk regions a special status. That is, in fact, he finally disavowed the Minsk agreements, where these measures are prescribed as mandatory.
As for the real steps that the new president is going to take in the first place, they rest on the same mythical foundations on which his predecessor built his policies.
Zelensky intends to talk with Moscow that she must fulfill the Minsk agreements that he canceled and launch a broad information campaign aimed at Donbas residents: they say they simply do not know how Ukraine needs them, and when they become aware of this, they will begin the return of rebel areas to the country.
From the Kremlin, he was already told that Russia is not a party to the conflict, and therefore it is pointless to demand from her that the Minsk agreements be implemented, and at the wrong address. As for informing, it sounds naive and ridiculous. After five years of war, Donetsk and Luhansk will hardly listen to assurances of eternal friendship from Kiev.
One decision, announced by the new leader of Ukraine, looks like a highly advantageous one, if we bear in mind the attitude to it of the population of two Donbass regions. He promised to start paying pensions and social benefits to people from the unrecognized republics. By the way, this is exactly what the UN requires. Zelensky's initiative fully meets the West’s understanding of Kiev’s obligations with respect to the rebel territories. But here alone political will may not be enough. Additional funds are still needed in the budget, and the Ukrainian treasury is not just empty, but burdened with numerous debts that must be constantly repaid.
Among other things, the showman’s victory is also the desperate desire of those who voted for him to get rid of aggressive Ukrainization that has been imposed on his teeth, persecution of everything Russian, militarism, which Poroshenko laid for the basis of his political course, the constant deepening of conflict with Russia. Here, I am afraid, those who are counting on a change of course are in for a big disappointment. Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policy is not shaped by the head of state, whoever it is: the rules are rigidly spelled across the ocean — and no one has the right to change them. It was Washington who was addressed to Zelensky’s assurances of his intention to continue and even strengthen the political line pursued by Petro Poroshenko.
The main scenery is changing, but the essence of what is happening in Ukraine remains the same. Of course, the stylistic color of the policy may be subject to updating. Still, a young man came to power, more energetic, able to effectively cast himself. But all these qualities will not help one iota to move aside the system of things folded in Ukraine: its purpose, as conceived by the United States, is to serve as a burden on the border with Russia, where it links Moscow by maintaining for many years the military conflict in Donbass. So Zelensky is only a modernized version of Petro Poroshenko, his copy, which differs from the original only in appearance.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.