Are these people present among you? [217][218][219], On March 23, Zelenskyy was calling on Russians to emigrate from Russia so as not to finance the war in Ukraine with their taxes. [148] This report was the catalyst for the TrumpUkraine scandal and the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. More From Britannica 27 February 2023 - 09:01. [39] Since 2015, Ukraine has banned Russian artists and other Russian works of culture from entering Ukraine. [19] He recorded the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dubbing of Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017). [170][171], On the morning of 24 February, Putin announced that Russia was initiating a "special military operation" in the Donbas. White nationalist livestreamer Nicholas Fuentes has made no secret of where his loyalties lie in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. MUNICH Vice President Kamala Harris declared on Saturday that the United States had formally concluded that Russia has committed "crimes against humanity" in its invasion of Ukraine, and. Please not that all time are approximate and are subject to change. People. [12][13] Zelenskyy was named the Time Person of the Year for 2022 and opinion polls in Ukraine have ranked him as Ukraine's greatest president. [115] Arsen Avakov, a controversial figure due to longstanding corruption allegations,[116] was kept on as interior minister, with Honcharuk arguing that the relatively inexperienced government needed experienced administrators and that Avakov had been "'drawn red lines' that cannot be crossed. Homeownership is an essential part of the American dream. Kyiv, Ukraine. This has been going on a long time. Just like the authorities in Ukraine, no matter how much they try to convince you otherwise. President Obama named Biden the administration's point man on Ukraine in February 2014, after a popular revolution ousted Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych and as Moscow sent. ", "Ukraine-Russia crisis: Ceasefire violations rise at contact line", "OSCE in Donbas reports 55% less ceasefire violations in 2020", " , ", " , , ", " " " ", " , ", Prystaiko about the visit of Zelensky to Oman: When time comes we will explain ( : ), "Zelensky to meet EU officials on first foreign visit", "Ukrainian president to resume exhumation of Poles in Ukraine: report", "Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies", "The Biden family's strange business history", "Ukrainian President Denies President Trump Pressured Him", "Biden, Zelensky Discuss Energy, Russia, Ukraine's Future With the West", "President Zelensky, First Lady open Ukrainian House in Washington", "Zelensky arrives to Washington to meet Blinken, Granholm, Biden", "Zelensky to meet with Apple CEO in California on Sept 2, visit Silicon Valley, speak at Stanford University", "In California, Zelensky meets with Ukrainians working at Silicon Valley companies", "Zelensky at Stanford: 'Russia's policy is to take, not give', Top Adviser to Ukrainian President Is Targeted in an Assassination Attempt, "Ukraine's Zelensky on frontline as Merkel urges Putin to pull back troops", "Zelensky warns Ukraine 'entirely prepared' if Russia attacks", "Zelenskiy says Ukraine uncovers coup plot involving Russians; Kremlin denies role", "Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says Ready for Russian Escalation, Claims Coup Plot Uncovered", "EU threatens Russia sanctions as NATO backs Ukraine", "Some Ukrainians Are Angry About Washington Ordering Diplomats' Families To Leave The US Embassy", "Volodymyr Zelensky accuses the West of causing 'panic' with warnings of a Russian invasion that hurts the Ukrainian economy", "Ukraine to the world: keep calm and stop spreading panic", "Ukraine crisis: US president Joe Biden tells Zelensky to 'prepare' for Russian invasion", "Ukraine's president told Biden to 'calm down' Russian invasion warnings, saying he was creating unwanted panic: report", "Ukraine is 'longing for peace' says Zelensky at Munich Security Conference", "Full Translation: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Feb. 23 Speech", "Volodymyr Zelensky's appeal to Russians: 'The people of Ukraine want peace', "London Playbook: BREAKING: Putin declares war Bombs Kyiv Blasts rock major cities", "Ukraine conflict: Russian forces attack from three sides", " ", "Ukrainian president signs decree on general mobilisation of population -Interfax", "Ukraine president orders full military mobilisation", "Putin Unbowed as Russia Presses Ahead With Invasion Toward Kyiv", "U.S. stands ready to evacuate Zelensky, Russia's 'No. [118], In March 2020, Honchurak resigned as prime minister following the leak of an audio recording in which he appeared to belittle Zelenskyy's economic management. [84] Zelenskyy is the first Jewish president; with Volodymyr Groysman as prime minister, Ukraine became the first country other than Israel to simultaneously have a Jewish head of state and head of government. After starting at Domino's Pizza in 1992 in Montreal, Canada as a part-time job, he decided to take on the challenge of being a store manager for one of Montreal's original four shops. His party gained 254 of the 424 seats. As president, Zelenskyy has been a proponent of e-government and of unity between the Ukrainian and Russian speaking parts of the country's population. [182], Zelenskyy has gained worldwide recognition as the wartime leader of Ukraine during the Russian invasion; historian Andrew Roberts compared him to Winston Churchill. [278][279] Civil rights organizations praised the statement, though criticizing its vagueness, as Zelenskyy eschewed details about legal proposals for civil partnerships. [102] Fixing the referendum law had been one of Zelenskyy's campaign promises. Zelenskyy has denied that he was pressured by Trump and declared that "he does not want to interfere in a foreign election. [49] Around the time of his 2019 election, Zelenskyy handed his shares in a key offshore company over to Sergei Shefir, but the two men appear to have made an arrangement for Zelenskyy's family to continue receiving the money from these companies. [128] The agreement failed to ease the conflict, as the separatists continued their attacks and Russia continued providing them with weapons and ammunition. [284] The couple's first daughter, Oleksandra, was born in July 2004. We will not forget. [19] Zelenskyy also played the leading role in the 2012 film 8 First Dates and in sequels which were produced in 2015 and 2016. [141], On 17 January 2020, the presidential appointee Minister of Foreign Affairs Vadym Prystaiko was unable to give answers during the "times of questions to the government" in parliament when the people's deputies of Ukraine asked him about the visit's official agenda, the invitation from Oman, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who were preparing the visit, as well as how the president actually crossed the border while visiting Oman. [110] Zelenskyy's requests to replace the foreign minister, defence minister, chief prosecutor and head of Ukraine's security service were rejected by parliament. Zelenskyy met personally with some of these groups and tried to convince them to surrender their unregistered weapons and accept the peace accord. [129], In December 2019, Russia and Ukraine agreed to resume talks mediated by France and Germany under the so-called Normandy Format, which had been abandoned in 2016; it was Zelenskyy's first face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin. [265], In an interview in December 2018, Zelenskyy stated that as president he would try to end the ongoing war in Donbas by negotiating with Russia. During the war in Donbas, he actively supported the Ukrainian army. [238], On 20 June 2022, Zelenskyy addressed African Union (AU) representatives via videoconference. [256] Two days before the second round, Zelenskyy stated that he wanted to build "a strong, powerful, free Ukraine, which is not the younger sister of Russia, which is not a corrupt partner of Europe, but our independent Ukraine". On 20 May, 2019 sworn in as the 6 th President of Ukraine. "[258], In February 2022, he applied for Ukraine to join the European Union. Blinken also commented on Vice President Kamala Harris's announcement in Munich that the U.S. had formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. 17 February 2023. [275][276] In April 2019, he stated that he was not against a Ukrainian language quota (on radio and TV), although he noted they could be tweaked. It's been a rough first year as vice president for Kamala Harris. [109] Former deputy foreign minister Olena Zerkal declined an appointment as deputy head of the presidential administration, but did agree to serve as the Ukrainian representative of the international courts concerning Russia. He invited African leaders for virtual meeting but only four of them attended. The United States announced they would supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine as had been requested. In 2019, he served as charg d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv and as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 . United States government official. His office said Zelenskyy paid for the entire trip himself. ", "Ukraine adopts new and improved referendum law", "Ukraine's referendum law passed during Yanukovych's presidency designated as unconstitutional", "Zelenskyy speeds up corruption crackdown, one oligarch at a time", "Ukrainian lawmakers pass law on oligarchs after assassination attempt", "Ukraine: why Volodymyr Zelensky is pursuing a disruptive agenda", " . Thank you for the principled defense and political support, for the clear understanding that the aggressor cannot be given a single chance. [161], On 19 January 2022, Zelenskyy said in a video message that the country's citizens should not panic and appealed to the media to be "methods of mass information and not mass hysteria. [202] The video is considered to be the first use of deepfake technology in a global-scale disinformation attack. [45], Zelenskyy worked mostly in Russian-language productions. [93][94][95] He also proposed to spend the money that would have been used to finance the parade on veterans. Donald Trump. [291], Ausichicrinites zelenskyyi, an extinct species of feather star described on 20 July 2022 by a group of Polish paleontologists, is named after Zelenskyy "for his courage and bravery in defending free Ukraine".[304][305]. "[272], During the presidential campaign, Zelenskyy promised bills to fight corruption, including removal of immunity from the president of the country, members of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) and judges, a law about impeachment, reform of election laws, and providing efficient trial by jury. Good afternoon, everyone. [179][189] During the invasion, Zelenskyy has been reportedly the target of more than a dozen assassination attempts; three were prevented due to tips from Russian FSB employees who opposed the invasion. Topline: President Trump and his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, repeatedly claimed that Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden engaged in corruption while the two had dealings in Ukraine. [88], In addition, on 6 June, lawmakers refused to include Zelenskyy's key initiative on reintroducing criminal liability for illegal enrichment in the parliament's agenda, and instead included a similar bill proposed by a group of deputies. [76][77] Polish president Andrzej Duda was one of the first European leaders to congratulate Zelenskyy. From 1998 to 2003, Kvartal 95 performed in the Major League and the highest open Ukrainian league of KVN, and the team members spent a lot of time in Moscow and constantly toured around post-Soviet countries. [176] In the early hours of 26 February, during the most significant assault by Russian troops on the capital of Kyiv, the United States government and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoan urged Zelenskyy to evacuate to a safer location, and both offered assistance for such an effort. 1:23 144.1K views 625 1,381 10.2K MUNICH (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday heralded NATO unity during the escalating Ukraine crisis and warned Russia that the U.S. and Western allies stood ready to respond with tough sanctions if President Vladimir Putin moves forward with an invasion of Ukraine. [268], In response to suggestions to the contrary, he stated in April 2019 that he regarded Russian president Vladimir Putin "as an enemy". Fox News host Tucker Carlson admitted on Thursday that he was wrong about the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine but blamed the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris for his . He made the comment after he was asked about an online petition calling to lift a prohibition on Ukrainian men leaving Ukraine. Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Chairman, members of the Rada, ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honored to be invited to speak to you today at a moment marked by great opportunity . Not All Jews There Are Pleased", ": , , , , ", "Volodymyr Zelensky Was a Jewish Comedian. [50][51] Although Zelenskyy denied any immediate plans to enter politics and said he had registered the party name only to prevent it being appropriated by others,[52] there was widespread speculation that he was planning to run. [70] Although Zelenskyy initially said he would only serve a single term, he walked back this promise in May 2021, saying he had not yet made up his mind. He said this on the air of the American TV channel Fox News. [91] This initiative was completed on 3 September, when the new parliament passed a bill stripping lawmakers of legal immunity, delivering Zelenskyy a legislative victory by fulfilling one of his key campaign promises. Volodymyr Zelensky, also spelled Volodymyr Zelenskyy, (born January 25, 1978, Kryvyy Rih, Ukraine, U.S.S.R. [now in Ukraine]), Ukrainian actor and comedian who was elected president of Ukraine in 2019. We will be right by your side to rebuild a modern, prosperous Ukraine firmly anchored on our common European path. 00:51. [183][186][187][188] BBC News and The Guardian have reported that his response to the invasion has received praise even from previous critics. [99][100], In January 2021, parliament passed a bill updating and reforming Ukraine's referendum laws,[101] which Ukraine's Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional in 2018. The first appears when there are video cameras, the other Petro sends Medvedchuk privietiki (greetings) to Moscow". With regards to same-sex marriage, Zelenskyy cited a provision in the Constitution of Ukraine barring same-sex marriage, as well as a ban on wartime changes to the Constitution, ruling out an introduction of same-sex marriages during the ongoing war. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron during the Munich Security Conference . [234] On 25 May 2022, Zelenskyy said that he was satisfied with China's policy of staying away from the conflict. whitehouse.gov. The Next One Might Not Be", "Deepfake video shows Zelenskyy's false call for Ukraine to surrender", "Zelensky tells European Parliament "nobody is going to break us" in emotional appeal", "Ukraine's Zelenskyy tells EU: 'Prove you are with us', "Zelensky echoes Churchill in historic address to U.K. Parliament", "Ukrainian President Zelensky to address Canadian Parliament on Tuesday", "Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks for Australian Bushmaster armoured vehicles in address to federal parliament", "Zelensky to US lawmakers: 'We need you right now' as he invokes Pearl Harbor and 9/11", "Zelensky criticizes Israel's response to Russian war in speech to lawmakers", "Zelenskyy calls on Italy to stop Russian oligarchs from using the country as a 'resort for murderers', "Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to address Japanese parliament", "Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to address Dutch parliament", "Volodimir Zelenski va vorbi n Parlamentul Romniei", "Zelensky to address Swedish, Danish parliaments", "Ukraine's ambassador to Norway says that Zelenskyy is ready to speak to the Storting", "President Niinist spoke with the President of Ukraine Zelensky", "Zelenskyy told Russian people to leave Russia if they could to deprive Putin of tax money for the war", "Ukraine suspends 11 political parties with links to Russia", "Zelensky says Ukrainian political parties linked to Russia to be banned", "Ukraine Suspends Political Parties With Russian Links", "Ukraine bans Communist party for 'promoting separatism', "Zelenskyy has consolidated Ukraine's TV outlets and dissolved rival political parties", "German President Is Told He Isn't Welcome in Ukraine", "Zelenskyy: up to Ukrainian 100 soldiers killed each day in eastern Ukraine", "Nearly 100 Ukraine Servicemen Could Die Every Day in East Region: Zelensky", "Ukrainian Males Aged 18 to 60 Are Now Banned from Leaving the Country", "Ukrainian casualties: Kyiv losing up to 200 troops a day - Zelensky aide", "Zelenskyy slams Henry Kissinger for emerging 'from the deep past' to suggest Ukraine cede territory to Russia", "Zelenskyy rejects Kissinger plan to concede territory to Russia; Ukraine hero alive, in Russian custody: Live updates", "Ukraine: Zelenskyy rules out 'military means' to regain all lost territory as it happened", "Volodymyr Zelenksy criticises Turkey for move to defy Nato sanctions with Russian tourism boost", "Zelensky: Ukraine is fine with China's position on war with Russia", "Zelenskyy urges China's Xi to help end Russia's war in Ukraine", "EU leaders agree to Russian oil ban after compromise with Hungary", "EU agrees on partial oil ban after Zelensky's call for unity", "Volodymyr Zelensky seeks African Union support", "Mercosur trade bloc denies Zelensky request to address summit", "Zelenskyy to Russians: Defy 'criminal mobilization', "Ukraine applies for Nato membership after Russia annexes territory", "Zelenskyy on Putin's threat of nuclear weapons: 'I don't think he's bluffing', "Zelensky says Putin wouldn't survive nuclear strike on Ukraine", "Zelensky in Washington: Ukraine's leader heads to US for first foreign trip", "US to send Patriot system to Ukraine in new $1.85 billion package", Zelensky stated that he did not promise to lower tariffs, " ", "Zelensky about eurointegration: referendum is needed", "What a Volodymyr Zelensky Ukrainian Presidency Would Look Like", Zelensky, Poroshenko, Tymoshenko and Gritsenko told how to move to NATO, From the EU to nuclear weapons: foreign policy Zelensky, Poroshenko, Tymoshenko and Gritsenko, "Ukraine supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity", "Ukraine wants to join the EU. Her primary message, however, was not necessarily to Ukrainians but to people living in the countries just to its west, who are watching Russian President Vladimir Putin and wondering where he. Ambassador William B. Taylor is vice president, Europe and Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Now he's standing up to Putin's army", ": , , , , ", " ()", "How funny is the comedian who may be Ukraine's next president? [255] The programme also states that Zelenskyy "will do everything to ensure" that Ukraine can apply for European Union membership in 2024. Critics of Zelenskyy's administration have claimed that, in taking power away from the Ukrainian oligarchs, he has sought to centralize authority and strengthen his personal position. [221][222][223] The Communist Party of Ukraine, another pro-Russia party, had already been banned in 2015 because of its support to the Donbas separatists. The EU will be with you and your people tomorrow and for as long as it takes. "I looked at them and said, 'I'm leaving in six hours,'" Biden told the crowd, taking a long look at his watch for effect . 11:58 A.M. (Local) THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, right, and US Vice President Joe Biden, left, shake hands during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 16, 2017. [34], In August 2014, Zelenskyy spoke out against the intention of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to ban Russian artists from Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, since the beginning of the invasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping had refused to speak with him. nov., a first nearly complete feather star (Crinoidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Africa", "Fossil Named After Ukraine's President Zelenskyy", "NFL Honors Highlights Defenders of Ukraine", Who is Volodymyr Zelenskyy? The President won't be offended if BBC standards assume different transliteration", Zelensky Unchained: What Ukraine's New Political Order Means For Its Future, "Ukraine Lifts Prosecutorial Immunity For Members Of Parliament", "Ukraine's anti-corruption effort struggles, but soldiers on", Faltering fightback: Zelensky's piecemeal campaign against Ukraine's oligarchs, "FT Person of the Year: Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In 2015, Zelenskyy became the star of the television series Servant of the People, where he played the role of the president of Ukraine. As we have reported more than once last year, Biden traveled to Kyiv as vice president and warned Ukraine's then-president, Petro Poroshenko, that the U.S. would withhold $1 billion in loan. Mr. Vice President, we value the level of technical assistance that is provided by the government of the United States. People. 1 target', "Ukraine's capital under threat as Russia presses invasion", "Volodymyr Zelenskiy stands defiant in face of Russian attack", "93 Percent of Ukrainians Believe Russia Will Be Defeated: Poll", "Majority of Ukrainians believe they will win against Russia - poll", "Americans have more confidence in Zelenskyy than Biden when it comes to world affairs", "Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy: From comedian to national hero", "Actor-turned-president Zelensky grows on stage as Ukraine's war-time leader", "Zelenskyy's unlikely journey, from comedy to wartime leader", "For many Jews, Volodymyr Zelensky is a 'modern Maccabee' as he fights Ukraine's war", "Ukraine leader Zelenskyy's wild ride: Jewish comedian to national hero", "Ukraine president suddenly thrust into hero role, mirrors one of the darkest chapters of the Cold War", "Zelensky emerges as global hero in Ukraine battle against Russia", "Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Standing Tall in the Face of Danger", "Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky: The comedian president who is rising to the moment", "Volodymyr Zelensky survives three assassination attempts in days", "Zelensky says 'we will not forgive' after Russians kill fleeing civilians", "Czech president to award state honour to Ukraine's president", "Ukraine's Zelenskiy Says Open to 'Compromise' with Russia on Crimea, Separatist Territories", "Zelensky Calls on Putin for Face-to-Face Talks, Says 'I Don't Bite', "Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine ready to discuss neutrality in peace talks with Russia", "Russia will stop 'in a moment' if Ukraine meets terms Kremlin", "Israel's Bennett plays peacemaker in Ukraine-Russia war", "Analysis: Two weeks into Ukraine war, analysts detect faint glimmers of compromise emerge", "Alternative to NATO proposed by Zelensky's party", "Why has Russia invaded Ukraine and what does Putin want? [196] On 8 March, Zelenskyy expressed willingness to discuss Putin's demands. [281], In September 2003, Zelenskyy married Olena Kiyashko, with whom he had attended school and university. President Poroshenko and his supporters claimed that Zelenskyy's victory would benefit Russia. But no . [130][131] Ultimately, the peace deal failed to reduce the violence, much less end the war. Today, we're announcing new actions to lower mortgage payments and help more people realize that dream. With inputs from agencies. Detractors noted that elections held in Donbas were unlikely to be free and fair, that the separatists had long driven out most pro-Ukrainian residents out of the region to ensure a pro-Russia majority, and that it would be impossible to ensure Russia kept its end of the agreement. [199] However, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was considering giving the Russian language protected minority status. If you don't want to leave now, sit down with me at the negotiating table. [66][67][68][69] On 19 April 2019 at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex presidential debates were held in the form of a show. [250][251], During his presidential campaign, Zelenskyy said that he supported Ukraine's becoming a member of the European Union and NATO, but he said Ukrainian voters should decide on the country's membership of these two organisations in referendums. [156], In April 2021, in response to Russian military build-up at the Ukrainian borders, Zelenskyy spoke to American president Joe Biden and urged NATO members to speed up Ukraine's request for membership. 2000 - Graduated from Kyiv National Economic University, with a law degree. ][41], After the Ukrainian media had reported that during the Russo-Ukrainian War Zelenskyy's Kvartal 95 had donated 1 million to the Ukrainian army, some Russian politicians and artists petitioned for a ban on his works in Russia. WASHINGTON Two Russian billionaires who have managed to dodge US sanctions over Moscow's year-old invasion of Ukraine went property shopping with Hunter Biden, dined with then-Vice . The position of vice president also exists in the executive structure of many other governments and businesses. We will not forgive. [53][51] After months of ambiguous statements,[52][51] on 31 December, less than four months from the election, Zelenskyy announced his candidacy for president of Ukraine on the New Year's Eve evening show on the TV channel 1+1. [127] In October 2019, Zelenskyy announced a preliminary deal struck with the separatists, under which the Ukrainian government would respect elections held in the region in exchange for Russia withdrawing its unmarked troops. The Vice President has departed for Kyiv, Ukraine, where he will meet with President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian reformers from both government and civil society, and deliver a speech to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The society will not forgive them", adding that "It will be the choice of our society whether to talk to them, or not to talk at all, and for how many years, tens of years or more. [19] Zelenskyy continued his movie career with the film Office Romance. [47] The first version of the script was written in Ukrainian but was translated into Russian for the Lithuanian actress Agn Grudyt. [82], Zelenskyy was inaugurated on 20 May 2019. [173] Later in the day, he announced general mobilisation. "[194] Zelenskyy said he was "99.9 percent sure" that Putin thought the Ukrainians would welcome the invading forces with "flowers and smiles". [19] Love in the Big City 3 was released in January 2014. [6][7][8], During his presidential campaign, Zelenskyy promised to end Ukraine's protracted conflict with Russia, and he has attempted to engage in dialogue with Russian president Vladimir Putin. [241] Following Putin's announcement of Russia annexing four regions of Ukrainian territory it had seized during its invasion, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would not hold peace talks with Russia while Putin was president. His leadership during the crisis has won him widespread international praise, and he has been described as a symbol of the Ukrainian resistance. VICE . [49], In March 2018, members of Zelenskyy's production company Kvartal 95 registered a new political party called Servant of the People the same name as the television program that Zelenskyy had starred in over the previous three years. Leave our land. [124] The deal was met with heavy criticism and protests by both politicians and the Ukrainian public. Russian missiles struck a number of military targets in Ukraine, and Zelenskyy declared martial law. [274], Zelenskyy opposed targeting the Russian language in Ukraine and banning artists for their political opinions (such as those viewed by the Government as anti-Ukrainian). [267] In an interview published three days before the 2019 presidential election (on 21 April), Zelenskyy stated that he was against granting the Donbas region "special status". [239] On 20 July 2022, South America's Mercosur trade bloc refused Zelenskyy's request to speak at the trade bloc's summit in Paraguay. [133] Although the ceasefire was frequently violated over the next few years and overall violence remained high, ceasefire violations in 2020 did decrease by over 50 per cent compared to the previous year. "[149], On a trip to the United States in September 2021, Zelenskyy engaged in talks and commitments with U.S. president Joe Biden,[150] Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm,[151] and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. [201] On 16 March 2022, a deepfake appeared online of Zelenskyy calling on Ukrainian citizens to surrender to Russia. [132] In July 2020, Zelenskyy announced a formal ceasefire with the separatists the more than twentieth such attempt since the war began in 2014.