KYIV, Ukraine — For years, Volodymyr Zelensky was best-known among his fellow Ukrainians for cracking them up. A comedy sketch artist, he starred in the hit sitcom "Servant of the People," about a history teacher who somehow gets elected president on the strength of a viral video of him ranting about corruption.
Now, Zelenskyy really is Ukraine's president, having won a shocking landslide victory as a political outsider in 2019, and Russia appears poised to invade his country at a moment's notice. And no one's laughing anymore.
As he tries to figure out how to keep the U.S. on his side, his people from freaking out and Moscow from sending in the tanks, many Ukrainians are starting to wonder whether their 44-year-old president has the smarts and strength to lead them through such a perilous moment. Instead of "Servant of the People," many here are thinking more of "The Godfather" and Michael Corleone's decision to ditch his loyal but gentle lieutenant, Tom Hagen, in favor of a hardened "wartime consigliere" when the bullets start to fly.
