Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. In the leadership literature is a phrase that applies only on rare occasion – “man meets moment.” It was coined when women were not yet conceivably part of the picture and, of course, even now, as national leaders they comprise only a fraction of the whole. (Out of some 195 countries in the world, about 26 are led by women.) But my point is obviously not about gender. It’s about those few moments in history when a particular circumstance seems from one moment to the next to transform a leader, turn him into something altogether different from what he was before. Setting aside the fact that Zelenskyy was a comedian and an actor with virtually no political experience until he was elected president of Ukraine less than three years ago and setting aside the fact that publicly at least he predicted the Russians would not invade, since the invasion took place three days ago, he has been a fool (as referenced in a recent post) because he is clearly at great risk of imprisonment, torture, and death. But (as also referenced in a recent post) he is clearly, more clearly with every passing hour, also a hero. He has emerged as a leader on a mission. He has displayed enormous physical courage, an enormous capacity to rally his followers, and an equally impressive ability to persuade outsiders they should, they must, join his, the Ukrainian people’s, cause. If Zelenskyy were to be murdered tomorrow, he will forever be remembered as a martyr, ready and willing to die for his cause. If, somehow, he manages to survive this trial by fire, he will forever be remembered as a hero for the ages. In the last week the Biden administration repeatedly offered Zelenskyy a safe escape, a way of getting out of Ukraine while he still could. His most recent response? “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. He will not now be deterred. For him humiliation is not an option. He will fight to the death, if need be his own.
