Page 19 - UKRRptMay19

Zelenskiy’s zingers
Zelenskiy lampooned Putin’s passport decree with a cutting reply, and significantly undermined fears that his lack of experience was going to hamper him in his dealings with the Kremlin. He said he doubted that any Ukrainians would take Putin up on the offer.
"Ukrainians are free people in a free country," he said in a statement posted on Facebook in Ukrainian and Russia – the point of which is Zelenskiy has already started to direct his message not just at the Kremlin but at the Russian people as a whole. This is Putin’s weakness, because as Russia’s real income goes into its sixth year of stagnation faith in Putin is starting to fade. Zelenskiy is positioning himself to become not just Ukraine’s president, but a role model of what a president should be for all of the countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) by going over the head of the government’s appealing directly to the people of the FSU using social media. In effect Zelenskiy could become the face of the Russian opposition.
“But what sets Ukraine apart is that here we have free speech, media and internet. And that is why we know what Russian passport really means: the right to be arrested for a peaceful protest; the right to have no free and fair elections; the right to forget that the inalienable human rights and freedoms even exist,” Zelenskiy post reads.
“Ukrainians are a free people in a free country that is independent, sovereign an indivisible. Ukrainian citizenship means freedom, dignity and valour. This is what we have been defending and will continue so defend. Ukraine will not give up its mission to be a model of democracy to the post-Soviet states, which will include extending protection, asylum and Ukrainian citizenship to anyone ready to fight for freedom. We will shelter and defend anyone ready to fight side by side with us for you're an dour victory,” Zelenskiy concluded.
Zelenskiy introduced this theme in his election victory speech with what may become prophetic words: “To countries of the former Soviet Union: Look at us. Anything is possible!”
The danger for the Kremlin has always been if Ukraine can be turned into a success and incomes catch up or overtake Russia, that would an extremely effective way of undermining the Putin regime. As it was the Ukrainian presidential debate was watched by millions of Russians as it was streamed online. It lead to the widespread reaction: “Why don't we have presidential debates?” amongst Russians.
However, Zelenskiy still has a major challenge ahead of him if he is going to be able to fulfil on any of these promises. Currently has doesn't have a single representative in Ukraine’s parliament and without a associated political part in the Verkhovna Rada he is powerless to make more than token reforms. Parliamentary elections are due in October and Zelenskiy needs to bring off a second victory for his newly formed Servant of the People party, which is currently leading the polls and would take 25% of the vote if elections were held on Sunday.
Despite the rhetorical slugfest, Zelenskiy also held out an olive branch and said he remains open to renewing negotiations in the Normandy format talks that include Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia. The next meeting is scheduled for May.
19 UKRAINE Country Report May 2019 www.intellinews.com