This Week's Story
click here to play audioPresident Zelensky shares his personal past and present challenge with General Washington.
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
Unusual Experiences for Ukraines’s President, part six
As President Volodymyr Zelensky and General George Washington ate breakfast together, the General asked, “Volodymyr, I would like to know more about you. Lafayette told me you are an actor and not a president. What did he mean?”
“I have been in the comedy world since I was 17 years old. I also earned a law degree at Kyiv National Economic University, but I never worked as a lawyer. I became a comedian and later the star of the comedic television series Servant of the People. Maybe that was my preparation. In it I was an anti-corruption crusader running for president.
“In real life by age 40, I was operating several media companies. I had directed, written, and produced for television, You Tube, and films. I’ve been in business relationships with oligarchs. I own many homes and Forbes, a business magazine, evaluates my net worth to be 596 million U.S. dollars.
“In 2019 with no government experience, I was elected president
of Ukraine. My face was nationally well-known and my platform was anti-corruption.
“When I became president, it was the fifth year of Ukraine’s war with Russia. Almost every night there was shelling across front lines. We lost 13,000 people. What could I do with no military or governmental experience?”
“You were criticized.”
“I was. As a comedian I was thin-skinned. As president I needed an elephant hide. Their skin is one inch thick, except that the skin on their flapping ears is thinner. I suspected I needed to listen to my people.”
“What did you think when Russia began massing almost 200,000 troops along your borders?”
“I spent weeks trying to not alarm my people, and yet trying to prepare if Putin ordered an invasion. February 24, 2022 the Russians swept into Ukraine from the north, south, and east. Missiles and airstrikes followed.
“In the following month our military moved swiftly with quasi guerrilla units and took advantage of Russian mistakes. Ukrainian teenagers and adults became a dedicated volunteer force providing military and humanitarian help.
“Daily I am clear; I am staying in Ukraine. Together we Ukrainians will defeat Russia. Many nations have helped us, particularly Poland and the United States, with humanitarian aid and weapons’ supply. Our enemy has become increasingly brutal to civilians. 4.2 million Ukrainian have become refugees into other countries. 6.5 million Ukrainian are displaced from their homes, but still are in Ukraine.”
“Volodymyr, what is your greatest need?”
“I usually answer that question with a list of the weapons we are asking nations to give us, especially weapons that would give us air superiority.”
“Volodymyr, perhaps there is something more important. We need hope for each day. Our people are encouraged when they see and hear hope in us. I learned as a young man that I needed time each day for private prayer and that God would give me hope for the day. Then comes courage.”
Today’s This Week’s Story recording team is Todd Warren, and Nathan and Scott Thomas for Barbara Steiner.
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