The votes are in! TV star Volodymyr Zelenskyy has won the country’s presidential runoff vote in a landslide. Zelenskyy received about 73% of the vote—while incumbent President Petro Poroshenko got just 24% support. But even with the huge victory, Zelenskyy has daunting challenges ahead.
One of the campaign slogans of the popular television comedian (see “Actor Leads Ukraine Vote”) was to unify Ukraine. The country has been torn by bitter debates over its identity as well as the conflict in the east fueled by neighboring Russia. But unlike in most elections in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history, Zelenskyy appears to have won both in Ukraine’s west and east, areas traditionally split on most issues.
Now the man who’s played Ukraine’s president only in a TV sitcom will have to handle simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine and problems over Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s pro-Russian region of Crimea.
Plus, Zelensky will have to face off against experienced Russian President Vladimir Putin if he wants to mend relations with Russia.
Zelenskyy, a Russian speaker from central Ukraine, has promised to work to re-integrate the eastern region of Ukraine back into the country. But he’s offered no details on how he plans to do that.
Yesterday, officials in Moscow sounded optimistic—but also a bit snooty—about Zelenskyy’s victory. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Facebook that the election results in Ukraine show “there is a chance to improve the relations with our country after all.”
Medvedev, whose government has been supplying the Ukrainian rebels with weapons and manpower, expresses hope that Zelenskyy would be “pragmatic and responsible” when tackling Russia supporters in the east.
(Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, makes the victory sign after seeing the exit polls for the second round of presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP/Vadim Ghirda)
Karisma S
Hmm, you know, I don't think I'm going to run for president when I grow up. I hope this man does well though!
Lily ( Thia's sister)
https://teen.wng.org/node/3869 there should be a girls president. check out the link
Hillary Clinton? no guns and
Hillary Clinton? no guns and then the right to abort?
Cool. I agree Karisma, I hope
Cool. I agree Karisma, I hope this guy does well too!
@Paulus
Practically everyone in the US already has the right to abort.
What?......
I don't think that is going to be very smart.....
Garrett v
I do not know what to think.
um..wat?..
I don't know what to say? I hope he is a good leader for them. And what dose thins have to do about hilary clinton?
Well maybe a movie star
Well maybe a movie star president would be more fun, but if he has no experience... I don't know how this can be good
Thia S.
There is a verse in the Bible (Jeremiah?) that talks about if women or children rule, that nation will fall, or something like that.
TO above
didn't Josiah rule when he was 8? and Esther? and Debrah?
Nadia A.
Yeah, I know, but wasn't there a verse that says something like that? I guess I could be wrong though...
@ Alyssa s
I don't know? if the Lord diid not call them than it will fall but if he did then it won't. ....?
i just sent a letter to the editor regarding this article....
since i am homeschooled, one of my assignments was to write a letter to an editor and i just wrote one regarding this article
Lily ( Thia's sister)
Oh wow nadia a I did not remember that. great memory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!********** Ps I was not saying a bad word I just wanted to put those on. PPS do you guys know what the bad word f*** is. it appeared on our book club yesterday and no one would tell me what it meant
@Lily S
If someone knows(I think I might) they SHOULD NOT put that on here!!
@ Lily
Yes, I know what the word you are talking about is, but I am not going to write it here because I think we should keep the comments safe. You might want to ask your parents what it means.
I know but I don't want to
I know but I don't want to put it on here. You should really ask your parents.
Lily ( Thia's sister)
can you guys at least tell me if it is a really bad word
To Above
It is
@ lily!!!....!!!
DONT!!! pleas don't ask what BAD WORDS ARE!! if they are called Bad words then that means that your mom would not want you to here it!!! and if somone rote it n here there comment rites would be revoked!!! pleas DON"T WRTE BAD THINGSN ON HERE!!!!! if you want to know what it is ask your mom or dad!
Lily ( Thia's sister)
Sorry guys I was just curios if anyone knew. I will not ask again.
@ Lily
It's fine, just maybe ask your parents before us next time :-)
Elsie (Emelias sister)
Nadia I don't think lily was trying to offend anyone! And she certainly didn't offend me! She was just curious..plus it isn't like she actually used the bad word.
Lily, It fine just maybe talk your parents about it!
Lily ( Thia's sister)
Elsie thank you for defending me. Basically everything you said is true
Elsie (Emelias sister)
No problem! I know you didn't mean to offend Nadia or anyone else.
Lily ( Thia's sister)
Yeah sorry I am just pretty curious and sometimes I get tooo curious
@ Lily
I get really curious a lot too! Really, it's just a part of being human. I think that God designed us with inquisitive natures.
Lena P
I agree : )
@ everyone
Sorry if I offended anyone. I just kinda well blowup! I just don't want any one to rite bad things on here so my younger sibling s can come on here with out having to be carful. And I you rote something like that your comment would get deleted.
Lily ( Thia's sister)
Okay this is just my curious nature again Nadia you do not have to answer but how do you know that it will get deleted if you write something bad? ( again you do not have to answer)
@Lily S
On the Website Polocies page it says "WORLD News Group reserves the right to delete or edit any comment as its editors determine. That WORLD News Group reserves this right does not mean that it will exercise such editorial control over the content of this site. Failure of WORLD News Group to delete or edit any material does not mean that we are accepting the content of any comment."
@ Lily
well I have Sean people write rude or not nice things on here and there comment gets deleted. and once JUST ONCE me and my little brother wrote something nosesnce on here and well it got deleted and a email was sent to our mom and she band us from commenting on WorldTeen for a few months.my brother is still band and this happend in 2018 before Christmas.
Lily ( Thia's sister)
okay thanks