When Volodymyr Zelensky was elected as Ukraine’s president in May 2019 he had been a politician for little more than four months. Even during his election campaign, he remained a professional comedian and a fixture on television shows, many of which aired on TV channels owned by the billionaire oligarch Igor Kolomoisky.

Since becoming president, Zelensky has set extraordinary ambitions for his country, including peace in the Donbas and an end of corruption. Ukraine’s parliament has passed scores of bills to upgrade the economy and modernise the state. A year into his presidency, however, it remains unclear whether Zelensky is a transformative moderniser or a politician beholden to bigger interests.

SPEAKERS:

• Vladislav Davidzon, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Odessa Review – European Culture Critic, Tablet Magazine
• Adrian Karatnycky, Senior Fellow and Co-director of Ukraine in Europe Programme, Atlantic Council (US), Founder and Managing Partner, Myrmidon Group LLC

CHAIR:

Rt Hon John Whittingdale MP, Conservative MP for Maldon

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