Zelenskyy must acknowledge that his previous acting profession doesn’t equip him with the necessary skills to lead a country at war with its neighboring nation.
His approach to governing is based on an ideological worldview where good always triumphs over evil with a flick of a wand or, in his case, with the help of money. However, this unrealistic dream of achieving unified leadership and people’s boundless resilience needs to be grounded.
War fatigue is a harsh reality that needs to be addressed urgently to prevent Ukraine from falling into an abyss from which it may not be able to recover on its own. Ukraine requires capable leadership with a clear understanding of global politics. While continuous visits to Western leaders may have yielded positive results in the past, people and politicians have realized that funding an endless war is not sustainable. Two of Ukraine’s partners – the U.S. and the EU – uphold Zelenskyy’s utopian vision. Leaders of these institutions have expressed their unwavering support, but what happens when that idealistic belief begins to create divisions within their respective institutions?
Idealism
/ʌɪˈdɪəlɪz(ə)m,ʌɪˈdiːəlɪz(ə)m/ noun
“The unrealistic belief in or pursuit of perfection.”
Zelenskyy needs to heed the advice of his generals and strategists, as his reluctance to do so will eventually erode the people’s trust in their government. There have already been reports of people expressing their unwillingness to join and serve in the defense force. A leader can better understand the complexities of military strategy by attentively listening. Moreover, the conscription system faces significant challenges due to widespread corruption among its officials and military personnel.
The EU’s interest in making Ukraine a member, particularly under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, is concerning. Whether Ukraine’s potential for becoming a prominent candidate would have been possible had the conflict between Russia and Ukraine never occurred. Further investigation into Ukraine’s fight against corruption is needed to justify membership based on war and hardship and evaluate the president’s leadership skills.
In conclusion, the future of Ukraine requires at least the following: a change of leadership, a definition of realistic objectives, and the creation of a sound, working institution for fighting internal corruption.
