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1 March 2022

Zelensky is a hero – but bravery alone won’t defeat the Russians

We can’t assume a happy ending for Ukraine. It needs our support.

By Otto English

Cometh the hour, cometh the hero. One week into the Ukrainian war, Vladimir Putin may have the upper hand in terms of military hardware, but it is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has already won the war of hearts and minds.

Once dismissed as a lightweight figure, a former actor who had somehow chanced his way to the top on the back of a popular TV series, the voice of Paddington Bear (in the Ukrainian version of the movie) has unleashed his inner roar. In this narrative-driven, Netflix era, the former thespian has given the definitive performance of what leadership under duress should be.

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