My pal Zelensky is a born winner
THE HANDSHAKE seemed to last forever. “It is an honour for me to be the first president of Ukraine who was honoured by the British monarch with his audience,” President Zelensky told King Charles.
It is another example of the Zelensky phenomenon.
He seems to turn everyone, instantly, into friends. Even the King appears different alongside him, expressing emotions of friendship beyond the usual protocol.
Zelensky also received a standing ovation from hundreds of MPS as he addressed them in Westminster Hall.
He said: “We will always come out on top of evil. We know freedom will win. We know Russia will lose.”
Where he is, there is success... and I know this from personal experience.
In Ukraine, we worked together at thetv channel 1+1.
We held conferences and participated in joint promotions.
Volodymyr always knew how to get his way thanks to his charisma and friendly attitude.
I remember being pregnant with my second child.
One day I was ill in bed and had to cancel all filming as I was constantly nauseous. But when Zelensky called and asked me to take part in histv show, I could not say no. It seemed that even his voice made me feel better.
I know what it is like to fall under his spell, it was impossible not to love him, he seemed to have no enemies.
Eight years ago, he was the same as he was at the audience with the King – genuine and self-confident. People who are like him do not manipulate, and perhaps that’s why the world helps Ukraine.
Zelensky has always been a winner. Once I hosted the Teletriumph awards ceremony for Ukrainiantv shows.
I had the envelope in my hands with the name of the winner for besttv presenter.
There could be no intrigue as to who would win, as Zelensky was among the nominees. He won so often, sometimes he didn’t have time to collect awards.
Team members would end up going on stage instead of him.
It may be that his media past makes him such an excellent orator, and he put these skills to use during his trip to the UK.
Certainly the president knows how to turn a phrase. “In Britain, the King is an air force pilot and in Ukraine today, every air force pilot is a king.”
And his signature army attire emphasised the purpose of his visit – to ask the British Government to provide weapons to Ukraine’s people.
It seems the British Government is willing to help.
On the day of his visit, Britain said it would train Ukrainian pilots, “so Ukraine can protect its skies in the future”.
Once upon a time Zelensky was a successful media star.
His victories, that seemed so great in peace time, have turned out to be just a rehearsal before the most important of all – the victory we are all waiting for.
‘It was impossible not to love him – he seemed to have no enemies’