S8 Ep817: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Evolution of Ukrainian Identity Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Russian-speaking Jewish entertainer and businessman, represents a shift toward a civic Ukrainian identity rather than an ethnic one. His 2019 election victory was rooted in

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Evolution of Ukrainian Identity

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Russian-speaking Jewish entertainer and businessman, represents a shift toward a civic Ukrainian identity rather than an ethnic one. His 2019 election victory was rooted in a desire for an outsider to fix the failing political system and find a path to peace with Moscow. Because of his background, Zelenskyy initially believed he could negotiate directly with Putin. His presidency highlights that being Ukrainian is now defined by a commitment to the state rather than language or religion, directly contradicting Putin's "one people" myth. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. (6/8)
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