Highlights: On February 24, 2024, it is exactly two years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the Ukrainians have resisted, led by a determined, charismatic head of state. Two years later, is Volodymyr Zelensky still the man for the job? Is the population still behind him? Can the lack of progress on the front become a source of political problems? Update with Stéphane Siohan, RFI correspondent in Ukraine. Click here to read the full interview.

On February 24, 2024, it is exactly two years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of a “special military operation” aimed at seizing…

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Ukraine: what these two years of war have changed for Volodymyr Zelensky

On February 24, 2024, it is exactly two years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of a “

special military operation

” aimed at seizing the capital Kiev by force and overthrowing President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Since then, the Ukrainians have resisted, led by a determined, charismatic head of state, who united around him an immense majority of his compatriots, even becoming a national and international icon.

Two years later, is Volodymyr Zelensky still the man for the job?

Is the population still behind him?

Can the lack of progress on the front become a source of political problems?

Update with Stéphane Siohan, RFI correspondent in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signing a flag during a visit to his troops on the Kupiansk frontline, February 19, 2024. via REUTERS - UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER

By: RFI Follow

RFI: Does Volodymyr Zelensky still have the same political capital, but also this strength of character, that we saw in him two years ago

I would tend to say yes.

Volodymyr Zelensky has become a political animal.

Five years ago, when he was still a presidential candidate, an actor

and audiovisual producer by profession

, many wondered whether he would have the build, the talent, the knowledge and the political acumen.

And actually, yes.

Two years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky became a different man.

From a political and media project, centrist, populist, post-modern, a little detached from reality, I would say, it was embodied.

Volodymyr Zelensky in April 2019, the actor-presidential candidate.

ASSOCIATED PRESS - Vadim Ghirda

But what strikes his fellow citizens today is that the dashing man of winter 2022 has taken a beating, and his physical appearance has completely changed.

This is what Vitaly Sych, the director of the NV magazine and radio, tells us: “

Zelensky has clearly become more mature.
He has aged.
Look at his photos before the war and current photos.
He doesn't look like someone who took two years, but who aged 15 or 17 years.
I think he emerged as a leader, but he also suffered serious emotional wounds, psychological trauma.
At the same time, I observe that little has been done at the domestic level to modernize the country.
I hope he can regain control of his mandate and push the country forward, with the same type of leadership he had at the start of the war.

Also read: Ukraine: Zelensky's mandate tested by a third year of war

Taking back control, does that mean that criticism is now being made towards Volodymyr Zelensky

Quite.

In Europe, we have long cultivated this image of national unity in Ukraine, of a president revered by his population.

This is not completely accurate.

If Ukrainians rallied behind Zelensky, it was not out of a feeling of blissful love, but because it was about saving the nation in adversity.

Today the situation is different.

Ukrainian hopes of reconquering the territory faded at the end of last summer, and now Volodymyr Zelensky is a bit on the grill.

It must maneuver with the procrastination of

its Western partners

and take risky political decisions, such as that of

mobilizing part of the population

, as Volodymyr Fesenko, one of the best Ukrainian political scientists, explains: “

No political force wants to take responsibility for completely the responsibility for mobilization.
And the president polarizes the situation with the military apparatus, saying that we cannot mobilize half a million men.
And when

Valery Zaluzhny
(former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces) was asked who should decide on mobilization, he replied that it was the role of the country's political leadership.
That's the main problem.
Zelensky's psychological state is only a reflection of the problems associated with the uncertain prospects of the war and the deepening of internal political contradictions.
Now Zelensky is a bit on the verge of a breakdown.
He is looking for solutions, what attitude to adopt, but he is not quite ready to face the problems that await him.

However, the problems for the Ukrainian executive are numerous.

First of all, it is a matter of urgently managing the shortage of ammunition and weapons facing the Ukrainian army, while the American Congress is still blocking aid worth several tens of billions of dollars.

On this issue, we must be clear: if American aid does not arrive before the spring, the situation on the ground could very quickly deteriorate.

And then, behind, there is the fatigue of the population.

The economy is slowing down

In a few months, serious economic and social problems could appear, such as the payment of civil servants' salaries and the functioning of state services.

In this context, is Volodymyr Zelensky politically threatened

No, not in the short term.

According to a recent poll, 69% of Ukrainians want Zelensky to remain president until the end of martial law, that is, until the end of the war.

So for the moment, he holds the bar firmly, and I don't see how he could be challenged.

Now, Ukraine is a very vibrant democracy, and Ukrainians love nothing more than to put pressure on their leaders.

A few days ago, I spoke with Ivana Klympusch-Tsintsadze, an opposition figure, former deputy prime minister under

Petro Poroshenko

The latter strongly criticizes the way in which Zelensky exercises his power, in a rather solitary, somewhat vertical manner, by marginalizing Parliament and attacking critical media.

Currently, there is no solid political alternative to Zelensky.

But the latter must be very careful, because he has become accustomed, over the past two years, to being an untouchable icon.

And he perhaps forgot that in the 20th century, in other countries having experienced an existential risk like Ukraine is experiencing today, the right attitude to adopt was the government of national unity, even if to work with his adversaries, ignoring his own person.

Also read: Ukraine: morale at half mast of Ukrainian troops on the front near Kupiansk

Ukraine: what these two years of war have changed for Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine: what these two years of war have changed for Volodymyr Zelensky

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