Volodymyr Zelenskyy was born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, to a Ukrainian Jewish family. He grew up as a native Russian speaker in a major city of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in central Ukraine.

Zelenskyy graduated from the Kryvyi Rih Institute of Economics with a law degree, although he never practiced law and instead pursued a career in comedy and entertainment.

Zelenskyy starred in the popular TV series 'Servant of the People,' where he played a fictional Ukrainian president. This role significantly boosted his public profile and laid the groundwork for his future political career.

Zelenskyy announced his candidacy for the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election during the New Year's Eve address of then-president Petro Poroshenko on the TV channel 1+1. This move marked his official entry into politics.

Zelenskyy won the presidential election with a landslide victory, receiving 73.23% of the vote in the second round against incumbent Petro Poroshenko. This victory was the largest in the history of Ukrainian presidential elections.

Zelenskyy was sworn in as president and dissolved the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council), leading to snap legislative elections on July 21, 2019. His party, Servant of the People, won an absolute majority in the parliament, marking a significant political milestone.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Zelenskyy has led the country through, remaining in Kyiv and declaring martial law. His leadership during this crisis has earned him global acclaim and recognition, including being named Time Person of the Year for 2022.

Zelenskyy continued to advocate for Ukraine internationally, visiting the International Criminal Court in The Hague and addressing the UN General Assembly. He has also been critical of countries supporting Russia and has called for increased support from NATO and other nations.

In a speech to the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy called on neutral countries to abandon their neutrality and support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, emphasizing the need for global solidarity against Russian aggression.

Due to the ongoing Russian invasion and the imposition of martial law, Zelenskyy's term as president has been extended beyond its original end date in May 2024. He continues to lead Ukraine through the conflict, making key military and political decisions to ensure the country's defense and international support.