Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky was a comedian with no political experience when he announced that he would be running in Ukraine's 2019 presidential election. Six years later, and he is now an embattled wartime leader and a symbol of Ukrainian defiance of Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy emerged as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance amid the Russian invasion. However, Trump’s recent criticisms complicate his political landscape, challenging Zelenskyy to maintain global support while rejecting Trump’s resource deal linked to military aid.