All language subtitles for Servant.Of.the.People.Zelensky.2020_[English] (SUBRIP)

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Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,680 Do you have any gadgets with President Zelensky? 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:05,920 - Yes. - What is this? 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,920 I scan Zelensky's picture... And... 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,000 You hear the song from the TV serial "Servant of the People". 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,400 It was Vasyl Holoborodko, the serial character played by Zelensky 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,480 that actually won the Elections. 7 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,440 People wanted radical changes like in the movie, and that's why they voted for him. 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,720 Millions of people could see him on TV every week, 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:41,480 and was treated like a guy living next door. 10 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:52,160 When Zelensky was elected president it took me quite a while to believe it. 11 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,120 I thought he'd say at the last moment, 12 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,840 "Sorry, friends. Forgive me. I wound you up." 13 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:16,640 SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE 14 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,920 You want us to tell all that story, right? OK. 15 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,680 That's how Volodymyr Zelensky looked in the early 2000s 16 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,000 when he was drumming up his show business. 17 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,120 From the very start, his "Kvartal 95" was the highest-rated show on TV. 18 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,760 Just like his other movies and TV programs. 19 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,200 Zelensky soon became famous, loved and admired 20 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,480 because he was successful in every single thing he did. 21 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,440 Just like in "Dancing with the Stars" in 2006. 22 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,040 And the winner is... pair number 5! 23 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,080 Zelensky is an incredibly efficient businessman, who created his own image. 24 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,440 And he is known throughout the entire post-Soviet territory. 25 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,480 Roman Romaniuk works for the newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda". 26 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,880 He writes about Volodymyr Zelensky. 27 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,560 He got accustomed to the fact that he was associated with success. 28 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,640 So, he thought to himself, "Why not take advantage of that?" 29 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:30,640 But I don't think he was fully aware of the changes he would have to face. 30 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,040 It was an event with no precedent anywhere else in Eastern Europe. 31 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,920 In 2019, a celebrity, actor, comedian 32 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,160 and a film producer became the president of Ukraine. 33 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,200 Volodymyr Zelensky got over 73% of all votes. 34 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,920 Millions of Ukrainians liked the role of a teacher he played in the TV serial. 35 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,560 A teacher who by chance became the president. An ideal president at that. 36 00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:03,600 One who serves ordinary people and fights with corrupted dignitaries. 37 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:11,640 Zelensky built his political capital on merciless mockery 38 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:18,280 of almost all Ukrainian politicians. 39 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,920 Jewhen Mahda is a leading political scientist 40 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,240 and the author of a book about the presidents of Ukraine. 41 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,280 Many politicians, including Poroshenko, would go to the "Kvartal 95" 42 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,440 no matter how bitterly they were criticized there. 43 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:36,560 What about the economy? 44 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,400 We are in deep shit... 45 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,320 Hush! Don't say it. Let it be a surprise for everybody. 46 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,960 Come down for the rehearsal. Quick. How long shall we wait? 47 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,040 Coming! 48 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:03,480 Roman Vintoniv is an actor and comedian. He has his channel on the Internet. 49 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,680 He puts down the politicians' bloopers in no uncertain terms. 50 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,320 Just the way Volodymyr Zelensky, now himself an object of ridicule used to do. 51 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,279 At first Zelensky used to joke a lot when he would talk with people. 52 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,120 - After he became the president? - Yes. 53 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,680 At first he would think to himself, "What? I won't make it as the president?" 54 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,640 "After all, I'm a TV producer and I've seen more than my share of bad beef." 55 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,600 But in time he realized that the slightest mistake on Instagram, 56 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,480 or some note he puts on Facebook or wherever, 57 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:44,080 like mistaking Lithuania and Latvia is a very serious matter. 58 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:45,960 - Romek! - Coming! 59 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,120 Roman's show is broadcast on so-called TV Toronto. 60 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,560 He appears as Michael Rat, 61 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,760 the correspondent of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. 62 00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:58,480 Long story short, it's not him. Just in case. 63 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,480 - Are you ready? - Yes. 64 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:01,680 So, let's start it. 65 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,880 (You're watching "โ™ช@)hryvna? 0". I'm Michael Rat. 66 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,560 - All right? - Again. 67 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,640 In the control room they say it was not energetic enough. 68 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,400 I'll show you the energy, Lena. 69 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,440 You'd better watch out. They may think you're drunk. 70 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:20,200 Three, two, one... 71 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,280 Look at the excerpts from previous shows. 72 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,440 - Indoor cycling. - A national one. 73 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:32,800 Volodymyr Zelensky made cycling the main symbol of his presidential power. 74 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,440 Good morning, Ukraine. 75 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,360 It's a fitness video right from Volodymyr Zelensky's Instagram. 76 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,760 Because during his first state visit to Brussels 77 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:47,440 the president was sitting on an indoor bike while giving his interview. 78 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,920 Zelensky will give his next interview while zorbing. 79 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,480 The journalist will run in front of the orb. 80 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,200 And Zelensky's briefing will look like this. 81 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,880 And this is his next press conference. 82 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,760 We found out how Volodymyr Zelensky is going to free the soldiers taken captive 83 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:15,400 and stop the Russian aggression in Donbass 84 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,680 within the Trilateral Contact Group. 85 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:22,280 I keep my fingers crossed. Hope we'll make it. 86 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,760 Zelensky will keep his fingers crossed in order to end the war. 87 00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:33,440 And he'll spit over his left shoulder to make the economy thrive. 88 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,320 Comedians have a powerful weapon in their hands. 89 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,040 Now Zelensky's finding 90 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:48,520 how it is when someone mocks your words because you said something wrong. 91 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,960 I think it's hard for him. 92 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,200 But thanks to that he started to mind his words more. 93 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,840 It shows he's working hard to be sterner and more serious. 94 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:04,040 To abandon his previous image of a jester. 95 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:09,000 It's a big problem because he got hostage to his image as a comedian. 96 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:10,720 That's true. 97 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,360 Let's see an excerpt from a movie. 98 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,680 - From "Servant of the People"? - Yes. 99 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,480 Because it helps to understand why people voted for Zelensky. 100 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,200 You got shackled to your stools! 101 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,080 You're wiping your sweat? You're sweating and upset? 102 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,520 I'm not the one you've been waiting for. Huh? 103 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,480 I wish I could punch your mugs with this stone baton. 104 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,680 Here. The Minister of Health. Want me to cure you, sir? 105 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,920 And you, Minister of Education? Are you OK? 106 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,800 Where do your kids go to school? Abroad? Right? 107 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,640 What a nightmare! Look at your fat mugs! 108 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,160 But that's not the way Zelensky is in the real world? 109 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,400 Maybe not any longer, but at first, he tried to act the way he did in the movie. 110 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:50,760 Have a look. 111 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,480 If you can't deal with the smuggling, why don't you hand in your resignation? 112 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,160 Can you fire them? 113 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,320 Not without prior notice. 114 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,120 I'm fed up with your bureaucracy and your courtesy like, 115 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,400 "Ladies and gentlemen please stand for the President..." 116 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,080 I'm interested in acts not words. 117 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:14,280 It's not the problem that someone glued himself to his chair and does nothing. 118 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,680 The real problem is that we lack competent people. 119 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:23,240 The problem is the lack of know-how, lack of professionals, lack of ideas... 120 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,080 Fear is also a problem. 121 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,560 And the situation when the system doesn't work 122 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,520 and everybody is doing their best to preserve it 123 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,120 instead of inventing something new. 124 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,799 So, shall we? 125 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,120 Zelensky surely knows how to present himself as a man like everyone else. 126 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,960 But the president, first of all, has to know how to solve difficult problems. 127 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,640 And our relationships with Russia is the most difficult problem of them all. 128 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,200 Because over 13.000 lives were lost during the war in the east of Ukraine. 129 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,840 Plus we lost Crimea and a part of Donbass. 130 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:06,120 I don't think Zelensky will ever be able to return to "business as usual" 131 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:11,560 in the relationship with Moscow as it was before the war. 132 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:17,960 Meaning, that he could do his business in both Ukraine and Russia. 133 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,120 Donbass, in the east of Ukraine. 134 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,920 Not far from here, there is the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic 135 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,120 created by the separatists and supported by Russia. 136 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,720 The frontline divided families, friends and the country. 137 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,560 The closer to the border, the more checkpoints, 138 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,960 deserted villages and destroyed houses. 139 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,640 Whoever could, has left. 140 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,480 You can say you live on the frontline. 141 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:02,840 Yes. Because the troops are stationed literally right next to my house. 142 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,000 How does it feel to live in a place like this? 143 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,000 Only those who have a permanent stay permit are allowed to enter the area. 144 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,920 Life was not bad here when the mines worked. 145 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,000 And now? Donbass has been abandoned. For good. 146 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,640 - Were you a miner? - Sure. Whole my life. 147 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,840 So, at least you have a good pension. 148 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:21,360 No... 149 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:26,520 Who did folks vote here for? Zelensky? 150 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,800 Who else could they vote for? 151 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,800 A prompt end to the war in Donbass 152 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,760 was the main slogan of Zelensky's presidential campaign. 153 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,600 This is what he told journalists as the candidate to the Office. 154 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,400 The most important thing is that we don't want the war. 155 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,600 We didn't start the war, 156 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,480 but if there is any chance to end it 157 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,040 we should do our best 158 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,680 to halt the killing of our people. 159 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,720 In the neighboring town they distribute buckwheat groats under the aid scheme. 160 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,160 Town Zolote, in Lugan Oblast is situated on the frontline. 161 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,880 The war and poverty made people here tired and irritated. 162 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,200 The rolls over there are yours, auntie. 163 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,400 Those ones and these one. 164 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:29,600 What gifts did they bring? Is this to insulate the houses? 165 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,280 - And does everybody can get it? - Everybody. 166 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,280 - Everybody who wants? - I mean, every household. 167 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,400 In October 2019, Zolote was in the news not only in Ukraine. 168 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,800 And it was all because of the visit of President Zelensky. 169 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,480 He came here right after Kiev agreed to withdraw the army 170 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:50,200 from three places along the frontline 171 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,040 including the one not far from here. 172 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,840 His decision divided Ukrainians. 173 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,200 Some saw the withdrawal of the army as a betrayal and capitulation; 174 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,360 others, like the citizens of Zolote, saw hope for peace. 175 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,040 How was it? Where did you meet him? 176 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,120 He was going from the club towards the shop. 177 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,960 On foot. He was going on foot all the time. 178 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:20,040 And he had no bulletproof vest. 179 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,240 We were even surprised because the others would put on so much stuff 180 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:25,960 and he looked just like us. 181 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,480 We are just standing here and suddenly he shows up. 182 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:33,000 "It's impossible." I thought to myself. But it really was Zelensky. 183 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,840 He was walking just like you and me. 184 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,640 Did you see Zelensky too? 185 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,440 He even shook her hand. She didn't wash it afterwards. 186 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:40,760 Tell us. 187 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,480 I didn't wash my hand for two weeks because the president shook it. 188 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,200 Volodymyr Zelensky came to the town late in the evening. 189 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,680 He spent the night in a simple house. 190 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,520 Its owner had no idea to who had rented the room. 191 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,000 I can sleep at my neighbor's. 192 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,760 No need. After all, it's your house. 193 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,680 But we'll pay. The agreed price. 194 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,480 - You didn't know who rented the room? - I didn't. 195 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:14,960 Meaning, our Intelligence works discreetly. Thank God. 196 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,960 And what do you need? What do people lack here? 197 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:21,600 Peace. We have enough of war. 198 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,440 That's how it looks. 199 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,040 Look, there is even a TV set and a DVD player. 200 00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:34,680 It's all right. 201 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,920 - Good morning. - You're so young. 202 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:44,880 Really. 203 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:46,480 - Just a kid. - A kid? 204 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,440 - Yes. - That's good. 205 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,400 Mamma mia! 206 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,560 - Do you bring good news? - Only good news. 207 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:55,920 Thank God. 208 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,720 Pensions should be five times higher. 209 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,240 I said, good news, not very good news. 210 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:05,400 I understand you. 211 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,720 - We want peace. - I know. 212 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,240 We're counting on you. We want to sleep without fear. 213 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,440 Will they withdraw the army from here? 214 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,200 - Is that what you want? - Yes. 215 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,720 He talked with anybody who wanted to. He heard out everybody. 216 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:24,440 There is a coal mine in our town and majority of the citizens works there. 217 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,720 - Now they pay the salary on time. - Yes. Without any delay. 218 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,080 Some time ago they wouldn't pay for six, seven or eight months. 219 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,720 When Zelensky came, he said we'd get all overdue salaries, 220 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,280 and we did. Within two or three weeks. 221 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:39,400 No. A bit later. 222 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,600 All right. Within month. But they paid it all. 223 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,320 They give ten rolls for a house; you and your son have twenty. 224 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,920 Do I live with him? Why the nerves? 225 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:58,400 We took a poll after a year of Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency. 226 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,640 Andrij Byczenko is a sociologist. 227 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:08,360 He works in the reputable Razumkov Public Opinion Research Center. 228 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:15,360 According to our poll, the largest group of respondents, over 40%, 229 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,800 thinks Zelensky did his best to improve the people's living conditions, 230 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,400 but the people in the president's closest proximity 231 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,200 and other officials don't do their jobs well. 232 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,280 So, he's not responsible. 233 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,160 Yes, according to the classical Russian way of thinking: 234 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,520 the tsar is good, only his men are bad. 235 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,720 - Show us how you live. - Come on in. 236 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,960 This is my kitchen. I'll make some coffee. 237 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,560 Lena works in a miners' club. 238 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,360 Her living conditions are typical for the majority of Zolote's citizens. 239 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,160 Bring the cups from the living room, Tanya. 240 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,920 Tatyana is a retired preschool teacher. 241 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,200 And this is our living room. 242 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,440 - I can see the TV set is constantly on. - Yes. 243 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,320 What TV stations do you watch? 244 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,880 Well... Russian. 245 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,240 They present the war in Donbass in a totally different way. 246 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,800 That's true. 247 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,080 When I watch it, I can see how many times they lie. 248 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:34,280 The folks, who live in self-proclaimed republics and can watch only Russian TV, 249 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:35,640 don't know the truth. 250 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,000 Of course they don't. 251 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:41,800 We don't understand their politics but we have got in touch with them somehow. 252 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,920 Tanya's mother and my grandmother live there. 253 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,680 Should we not talk with them? 254 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,760 - And you do? - Sure we do. 255 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,000 - On the phone? - On Skype and on the phone. 256 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,080 What's the situation there? 257 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,880 The pensioners can't complain. 258 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:03,080 They get their money from here and from there. 259 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,280 But they won't make it without their Ukrainian pension? 260 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,119 Of course. And it's definitely not a place for young people. 261 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,000 Let's get back to Zelensky. 262 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,319 It's the "Servant of the Nation" TV serial. 263 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:19,160 While our county is plunged in poverty, 264 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:24,720 you close the city center to whizz around in your elegant limousines. 265 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,640 The price of any of them is enough to pay 266 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,080 for the surgery of some pensioner. 267 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,760 That's a fact. Pensioners in our country are poor. 268 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,600 Did people have this movie in their minds when they voted for Zelensky? 269 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:42,680 Yes. 270 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,480 Do you think he is the way he is in the movie? 271 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:51,280 But in the serial he plays a simple teacher who becomes president. 272 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:56,200 Zelensky himself, however, is extremely well-off, hence the question: 273 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,920 Does he understand the problems of ordinary people? 274 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,440 Why shouldn't he? Why? 275 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,840 Did you evert think why Zelensky wanted to be a president? 276 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,200 After all, he was very successful, quite popular... 277 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,040 Frankly speaking I don't know why. 278 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:16,600 You know, you can be left with the suspicion that someone... 279 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,120 - Wanted him to be the President? - Exactly. 280 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:20,720 I mean: oligarchs. 281 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,760 I'm running for the office of the President of Ukraine. 282 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,680 Volodymyr Zelensky announced he was going to run 283 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,640 for the office on 1+1 TV Channel. 284 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,080 The same that broadcast the serial "Servant of the Nation". 285 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,680 It's a TV station that belongs to an oligarch, Igor Kolomoysky. 286 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,000 And Kolomoysky was conflicted with Petro Poroshenko. 287 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,160 I think Zelensky himself is a project, 288 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:49,800 and the serial "Servant of the Nation" was a part of that project. 289 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,200 I think Zelensky's presidency is the result 290 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,600 of a deal of a group of Ukrainian oligarchs 291 00:18:54,680 --> 00:19:01,400 who decided to get rid of Petro Poroshenko. 292 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,200 So far, we've suffered so much that we really want some changes 293 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,120 and we firmly believe in them. 294 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,400 At least recently there is a ceasefire here and we don't hear gunshots. 295 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,680 However some criticize the truce 296 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,440 because they think you shouldn't make any deals with the enemy. 297 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:27,040 If those who say this have lived here and gone through the things we have, 298 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,120 a plane dropping bombs, and you don't know where to run 299 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:37,120 and just lay down on the ground, they would support the ceasefire too. 300 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,360 Did you see the talk Zelensky had with the volunteers 301 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,520 who didn't want to withdraw from the frontline? 302 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:49,200 It was out of place. You can't talk like that with the president. 303 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:51,800 You should respect the president. 304 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,160 But let's have some borsch. 305 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,240 President Zelensky came to Zolote with a difficult mission. 306 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,800 He had to meet with the nationalist volunteers 307 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,240 who refused to obey an order to withdraw from the frontline. 308 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,280 Did you come to see the retreat of the forces? 309 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,920 I came to see what people think about it. What they are saying. 310 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,040 And what do they say? 311 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,800 They say it's necessary to withdraw the army. 312 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,480 And they said to us, it is not. 313 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,440 Withdrawing the forces from three parts of the front 314 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,040 was the condition for Zelensky-Putin meeting 315 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:37,760 and resumption of peace talks within the so-called Normandy Format. 316 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,240 We know your promises. We know you want demilitarization and so on... 317 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,920 But we want to discuss and formalize it, 318 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,720 so that the situation we had with Petro Poroshenko won't repeat itself. 319 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,400 What? You want to formalize your relationships with me? 320 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,800 - To sign a memorandum. - What? Me? With you? 321 00:20:54,880 --> 00:21:00,040 Not with me, but with all the people involved who fight for Ukraine. 322 00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:04,120 What capitulation you're talking about? I said: take the arms out of here. 323 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,240 Listen to me. I'm the President of the country. 324 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,040 I'm 42. And I'm not a looser. 325 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:14,640 I told you: get the weapons out of here. 326 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,600 Zelensky's problem is that at first, 327 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:23,680 he tried to desacralize the authorities as much as he could. 328 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,960 He tried to show that those in power are not some exceptional folks, 329 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:32,280 but ordinary people who live next door whose aim is to serve the nation. 330 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:33,920 When he came to power, 331 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,360 he realized that although the president should serve the citizens, 332 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:45,240 the citizens have to show him respect as the head of state. 333 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,880 And it does not refer to a particular person, 334 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,960 it refers to the office of president, the very institution. 335 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:55,720 Otherwise, the entire system will collapse. 336 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,520 The frontline, with self-proclaimed republics supported by Moscow, 337 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,520 is more than 450 kilometers long. 338 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,360 Kiev doesn't control one third of the Donbass territory. 339 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,000 Where are they? Over there? 340 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,800 Yes. They are observing us. Just like we're observing them. 341 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,280 You can see them walking there. 342 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,560 It used to be one town, 343 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,600 now people behind the frontline use Russian currency 344 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:37,120 and have Russian passports 345 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:42,560 because Moscow easily issues them to the citizens of the separatist republics. 346 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,160 And that's what Volodymyr Zelensky said in July 2020. 347 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:53,160 We lost a part of our territory, we lost a part of our population 348 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:58,000 and unfortunately, we can't bring the dead back to life. 349 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,600 But we should regain all our territories. 350 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,560 Regain our faith... 351 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,600 Our faith in truth and justice. 352 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,040 So that the death of our heroes who died for them wasn't in vain. 353 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:36,160 - Did any of your friends get killed? - Of course. For instance, my neighbor. 354 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,440 - How old was he? - Twenty-four. 355 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:47,240 The brigade is stationed at the abandoned house. 356 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,000 Its owners left at the beginning of the war 357 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,800 when there was regular fighting in the village. 358 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,040 - These are the remains of normal life. - Right... 359 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,120 Looks it must have been quite a well-off village once. 360 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,400 People used to live and work here uneventfully. 361 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,920 Today only those who have nowhere to go remained. 362 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,680 President Zelensky promised he would end this war. 363 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,200 At least he attempted to solve the problem politically. 364 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,120 Because the events of the recent years clearly prove it 365 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,160 that armed actions bring no desirable results. 366 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,520 In one of his interviews before the presidential elections Zelensky said: 367 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,800 We have to sit with Putin at one table, 368 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,880 take the list of his demands and the list of our demands, 369 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,400 compare them and reach a consensus somewhere halfway. 370 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:01,880 But that's what you could do only in the "Servant of the Nation" TV serial. 371 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,880 Because when you sit down in front of the real Putin, you won't tell him: 372 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,400 Come on, man. Let's meet somewhere halfway, 373 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,240 because nobody knows where the halfway exactly is. 374 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,480 Volodymyr Zelensky talked with President Putin 375 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,800 a couple of times during his first months in office 376 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,080 to fill up trenches like this one. 377 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:31,280 Over the phone and face to face in Paris during the Normandy contact group summit. 378 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,440 But Kiev didn't gain control over the self-proclaimed republics. 379 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,200 Neither trenches, nor borders disappeared. 380 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:48,360 What's the situation? 381 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:50,600 It's all right. Peace and quiet. 382 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,440 What does the enemy do? 383 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,840 They were going to the slag heaps at night 384 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,880 and bringing some boards from there. 385 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:01,600 When the President came... What's this? Please answer it. 386 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,280 What's wrong? 387 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:08,960 Nothing. Usual report. 388 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,880 Did the President meet you when he would come to Donbass? 389 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,360 Not personally with me, but he met the commander of our battalion. 390 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:22,040 President gave him the Bohdan Khmelnitsky Order. 391 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,720 - Good morning. - Good morning, Natasha. 392 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,960 - How are you? - Great. 393 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,000 What's going on? What are you doing? 394 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:34,280 Nothing. Uneventful day. 395 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,520 Nataliya is the brigade spokesperson 396 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,280 and graduate of the Military University of Land Forces. 397 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:44,240 She comes from Lvov and she came to the frontline 398 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:45,920 with no trace of hesitation. 399 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,760 I respect women who serve in the army, not every man is even up to it. 400 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,200 We were talking about the president's visit here. 401 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,360 Did you watch "Servant of the Nation"? 402 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,360 Of course we did. 403 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,560 - All of you? - Of course. 404 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:08,160 What did you feel when you heard Zelensky would run for office? 405 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:12,760 Politics is not our cup of tea. We don't want to talk about it. 406 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,280 Our aim is to protect Ukraine from the enemy and that's what we focus on. 407 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:29,720 Is this a typical soldiers' dugout? 408 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:30,960 Yes. It's a shelter. 409 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,480 - Not too much room in here. - That's true. 410 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:36,600 Aim well. 411 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,480 - What's your name? - Sasha. 412 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,600 - And you? - Seriosha. 413 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,200 What's the most difficult thing in your everyday life here? 414 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:46,880 Tell her. 415 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,440 Sitting here idly. 416 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,760 You're bored. You would like to fight. 417 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,120 Yes. We wouldn't say no. It was easier before. 418 00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:58,840 If you were carried away, 419 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,600 you could fire a series from your machine gun and you got as calm as a baby. 420 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,640 Adrenaline boosts you better than your morning coffee. 421 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,280 - Have any of your relatives got killed? - No. 422 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:12,640 - Where are you from? - From Kryvyi Rih. 423 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:17,160 - The town where Zelensky was born! - Yes. 424 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:22,080 But I lost my interest in him the instant he stopped playing in the movies. 425 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,880 Kryvyi Rih. A big industrial center. 426 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:37,040 A city of mines, iron ore and coal, 427 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:38,760 quarries, steelworks, 428 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,160 smoking chimneys and pervasive rust-colored dust. 429 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,000 Volodymyr Zelensky was born here in 1978, 430 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:50,000 to a family of Russian speaking white collar workers. 431 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,720 He went to school here and got his M.A. in law, 432 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,600 but he's never worked as a lawyer. 433 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,480 He met the love of his life here. And he started his career in show business here. 434 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,240 Watch out. Everything is fresh paint. 435 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,000 Valentina Ignatienko is the deputy principal of the school. 436 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:12,960 Volodymyr Zelensky used to attend. 437 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,760 She was one of the first who spotted his artistic talent. 438 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,360 He came here when he was a small kid. He was eight. 439 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,240 He was always interested in everything and curious of everything. 440 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,440 He wanted to know everything and he had to be everywhere. 441 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,240 When he was in fourth or fifth grade, 442 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,640 we started a ballroom dance circle in our school. 443 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,560 Of course, he enrolled right away. 444 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,480 When he was in eighth grade 445 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:52,720 the literature teacher suggested to her students, 446 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,600 to stage some play. 447 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,360 They picked up "Marriage" by Gogol. 448 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:08,600 Zelensky played the chef superintendent manager, Omelette. 449 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,240 It's not the lead role, as you know, 450 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:17,080 but he got most of the flowers after the performance. 451 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:21,200 He's always been at the center of attention on stage. 452 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,760 Volodia Zelensky used to study in this classroom. 453 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:36,840 Where did he sit? 454 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,240 Somewhere here. At the second or third desk. 455 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,080 - Because he wasn't too tall? - Yes. He wasn't. 456 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:47,720 That's why he was always sitting at one of the front desks. 457 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:52,640 How did you react when you found out he was going to run for the office? 458 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,080 I won't deny I had many doubts 459 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,320 if he was doing the right thing and if it was something he really needed. 460 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,240 And did you calm down in time, or just the opposite? 461 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,800 How could we calm down? 462 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,400 We can see how many problems he has to solve. 463 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,880 The situation is very unstable. 464 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:17,600 And on top of this we have the Covid-19 pandemic, 465 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,080 to make things worse. 466 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,800 I think that if he had known the difficulties he would face 467 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:26,000 as a president, 468 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,640 perhaps he wouldn't have done it. 469 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,240 But I would like to stress that we trusted him 470 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:38,200 when he announced he was going to run for the office, 471 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,040 and we still trust him. 472 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:45,040 He's well educated and he got an excellent upbringing at home. 473 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,040 He has a comprehensive personality. 474 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,800 How did the children react when they found out 475 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,800 a student from their school became the president? 476 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,520 The children suggested they create the flash mob in front of the school. 477 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,240 - On this schoolyard? - Yes. 478 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:10,800 They decided to greet the graduate of our school on his great victory. 479 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,760 And together we prepared a special dance routine. 480 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:18,000 The most beautiful youth in the world. We! We! 481 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,480 Creative and active. We! We! 482 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,320 Invincible and fit. We! We! 483 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,840 And strong-willed We! We! 484 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:33,120 We greet the President of Ukraine! 485 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:40,000 What is this? 486 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:44,560 The book of grades 487 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,120 from final exams. 488 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:53,920 I'll show you now, what grades our president got. 489 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,400 - Which ones? - Look. The ones here. 490 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,640 Zelensky Volodymyr Oleksandrovych. 491 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:04,600 He was a straight-A student. 492 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:06,560 Born on January 26, 1978. 493 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,640 Remember to send him the best wishes for his birthday. 494 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:17,680 Look. Almost all As. With a few exceptions. 495 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,920 Meaning? 496 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:24,480 Ukrainian and physical education. 497 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:33,160 The teacher of Ukrainian, Nataliya Ivanovna still works at the school. 498 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:35,680 She lives not far from the school, 499 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:40,320 in one of many typical blocks of flats built in Krivyi Rih in the Soviet times. 500 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:50,040 - Good morning. May I? - Of course. 501 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,480 Nataliya Ivanovna was Volodymyr Zelensky's teacher for three years. 502 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,400 The only B he got at his finals was in Ukrainian language. 503 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,000 And how does Zelensky speak Ukrainian today? 504 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:11,080 He speaks impeccable Ukrainian, he has mastered the language. 505 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:12,800 Perfectly? 506 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:16,320 Yes. I must admit he speaks perfect Ukrainian now. 507 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:19,760 - Did you vote for him? - No. 508 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,400 My husband voted for Zelensky and he tried to convince me as well. 509 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:29,840 He's young and enterprising -he would say. -and his staff seems excellent. 510 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:33,520 And I would say to him: 511 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:39,159 You must understand that one can work as a clown, or he can just be a clown. 512 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:43,440 And for me Zelensky has always been just a clown. 513 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,639 I didn't even watch his shows. Maybe one or two at the very beginning. 514 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,360 Why not? What didn't you like in his jokes? 515 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:52,679 - He would offend people. - Who? 516 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:54,760 Ukrainian people. 517 00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:59,480 - How? Give me the example. - All right. 518 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,080 Putin sends his tanks against us, 519 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:05,680 and in return we send our pretty girls to Moscow. 520 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:08,520 How can you say something like that? 521 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,480 Actually, I even feel sorry for him. 522 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:16,880 Because you think some don't treat him as a serious politician? 523 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,080 Yes. 524 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:22,200 He should change his staff completely. Completely. 525 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,800 But he's changed it a few times, in a short time at that. 526 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,160 But he replaced bad guys with even worse guys. 527 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:31,880 But... Let's have some tea. 528 00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:37,840 Even during his first year in the office 529 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:41,640 we could see two different Presidents Zelenskys. 530 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:46,040 The first President Zelensky was actually Vasyl Holoborodko, 531 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,000 a character from "Servant of the People" 532 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:53,880 who rattled his sabre and tried to make a revolution. 533 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:59,080 People he chose then were mostly Western oriented young men with sparkling eyes. 534 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,560 But in time he replaced them with old and experienced people. 535 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,120 Half of them are Soviet party apparatchiks, 536 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:11,760 and the second half -with politicians active in the times of Yanukovych. 537 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,080 At first, Zelensky bet on experts, 538 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,720 young people but often without any political experience. 539 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:20,800 He only wanted them not to steal, 540 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,320 not to lie, not to give up and think in a new way. 541 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:25,200 Just as Andriy Bohdan declared, 542 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:27,760 the lawyer of Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskiy, 543 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,880 and the first Head of Presidential Administration. 544 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:37,800 We came here with the concept of reforming the presidential administration 545 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:38,920 in a material sense, 546 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,080 I mean: to change everything that we can see around us here. 547 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,160 What the others didn't manage to steal. 548 00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:46,800 Yes, we want to haul off all this gold and fringes. 549 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,480 And make a mental reform, 550 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,880 I mean: to transform the Soviet style administration 551 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:54,880 into a modern, European style administration 552 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:56,920 of the President of Ukraine. 553 00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:59,120 Kolomoyskiy protegee, 554 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:03,240 Andriy Bohdan managed to remain at his post less than nine months. 555 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:07,240 The experts' government of young economist and lawyer Oleksiy Honcharuk 556 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:11,120 survived even less -only six months. 557 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,600 If someone doesn't make it, we'll get rid of him. 558 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:20,600 Volodymyr Zelensky turned out to be very impatient. 559 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:23,040 He counted on prompt improvement of the situation 560 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:25,280 in the country as he promised his electorate. 561 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,600 But his "elevator" program, 562 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,240 because it was meant to elevate apolitical experts 563 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,520 didn't bring prompt results as he expected. 564 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:36,800 And his substitute's bench turned out very short. 565 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:39,520 Here you are. Your order. 566 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:44,160 I drove on the curb a bit, but I don't think I destroyed it. 567 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:47,840 - Is this for us? - Yes. And your coffee. 568 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:49,200 Here you are. 569 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,520 - It was nice to see you. - It was nice to see you too. 570 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,400 - Visit us more often. - Good luck. 571 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,280 And who's going to drive now? 572 00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:01,160 During his first year in the office, 573 00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,800 Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed two Prime ministers 574 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:07,000 and the experts who were the ministers 575 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:11,080 were substituted by politicians with a longtime experience. 576 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,760 It shows that Zelensky's team was not prepared to run a marathon, 577 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,560 it consisted of short distance runners only. 578 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:24,680 After a few months, mostly the folks with whom Zelensky started his career on stage 579 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:26,640 remained at his side. 580 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:30,080 Especially his collaborators from Kvartal 95 cabaret, 581 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,000 that he founded in Kryvyi Rih. 582 00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:44,600 Some time ago you could often meet the future President Volodymyr Zelensky here. 583 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:45,680 Where? 584 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,640 At the staircase, near the corner. 585 00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:50,960 Because it's where Lena, his wife lived. 586 00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,080 He would come here every day 587 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:57,240 and wait till his future wife goes out for a walk with her dog. 588 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,560 And I could reach my flat at the next staircase 589 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,720 and the future president would often visit me. 590 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:05,120 Come on in. 591 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:11,600 Andreyi Zaslavsky is Volodymyr Zelensky's classmate. 592 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,080 Today he works as a technical controller of city trolleybuses 593 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,120 and a journalist of the local paper. 594 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:20,120 Do all staircases in these houses look the same? 595 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:23,200 More or less. But this one is eight stories high, 596 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:25,760 and the one where Zelensky lived-eleven. 597 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:30,120 Volodymyr Zelensky lived in the huge block of flats on the main street. 598 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,520 His parents belonged to the city elite. 599 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,520 His father worked as a professor of cybernetics at the university, 600 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:38,240 his mother was an engineer. 601 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,120 The apartment looks exactly the same as it looked in the 90's 602 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,000 when Zelensky used to call on me. 603 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:50,960 Our class was exceptional because we had an extensive course in English. 604 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:54,760 I'll always remember when Volodia and I would come back from the theater 605 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:57,280 and the streetcar broke down. 606 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:03,360 We walked through the night city and finally, we made a terminus. 607 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:07,080 We got on the last car. There was nobody else in it. 608 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:12,880 And we started singing together to kill the time. 609 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:19,040 Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away... 610 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,480 And do you remember the song from "Servant of the Nation"? 611 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:24,760 I love my country, 612 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:26,880 I love my wife, 613 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:30,040 I love my dog... 614 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:35,800 When I saw the movie, I wanted that story to happen in real life. 615 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,760 I would like to award each of you with a personalized watch. 616 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,480 Excuse me. But the watch was supposed to be personalized 617 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:49,040 and mine has the name "Mikhail" engraved on it. And I'm Sergei. 618 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:51,680 I have a wrong name on mine too. 619 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:53,800 And there is a female name on mine. 620 00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,480 Did I say there would be your names on these watches? 621 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:01,560 No. There are the names of other people. 622 00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:03,040 Meaning? 623 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:04,800 Don't you remember? 624 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:06,160 And should I? 625 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:08,280 You are obliged to. 626 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,680 There are names of the people who got killed at Euromaidan. 627 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:19,000 At first, many people accused Zelensky of being too pro-Russian. 628 00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:23,040 Of course, he isn't. After all, he stands up for the interests of Ukraine. 629 00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:27,680 He clearly calls Crimea and Donbass our land, and he calls Russia an aggressor. 630 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:32,640 He continues what he used to say before he became president. 631 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:36,440 When they accuse him of pro-Russian politics, they are wrong. 632 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:41,040 It's probably because he comes from the Russian speaking part of the country. 633 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:45,680 And also, because he used to make money in Russia. 634 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:49,720 He was emotionally and financially linked with Russia. 635 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:55,400 Yes, but look what movies he produced in Russia. Only love stories. 636 00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:01,760 In his company Kvartal 95, Volodymyr Zelensky produced hundreds of TV shows, 637 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:03,840 and over 30 movies and TV serials. 638 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:08,240 All of them were cash cows and had millions of viewers on the Internet. 639 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,160 Zelensky was a kind of candidate 640 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:23,920 that everybody could imagine any way they wanted. 641 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,720 Be it a positive or negative way. 642 00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:32,600 Because he and his team were like a very capacious container. 643 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:37,040 Thanks to that Zelensky gained full power in the country; 644 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,360 he was elected president 645 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,440 and the party he created, 646 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:46,680 "Servant of the People", won the parliamentary elections. 647 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:53,960 In 2019, Zelensky's party got 43% of votes in the parliamentary elections. 648 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:58,640 It was an exceptional mandate of trust. But the happiness didn't last long. 649 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:02,800 After a year the support for Zelensky himself didn't diminish too much. 650 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,440 The support for his party -significantly. 651 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:09,040 Because a political party can't embrace at the same time both: 652 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:10,280 radically pro-Western 653 00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:13,200 and radically pro-Russian and pro-Soviet politicians. 654 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:17,960 Such a party simply can't exist. 655 00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:22,360 This is called Uber of the President. 656 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,400 The Supreme Council of Ukraine is ahead of us. 657 00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:28,200 "Servant of the Nation" is a people's party. 658 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:30,840 Not president's party, but a people's party. 659 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:33,520 There's never been such a party here before, 660 00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:35,720 our 254 deputies are various people. 661 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:40,080 Some of them know the law and have experience, 662 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,040 for instance: economists with a lot of practice or lawyers. 663 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:49,000 But there are also simple people; farmers or mid-staffers in some companies. 664 00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:55,280 And they, forgive the expression, need a long warmup. 665 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:57,360 - Should I turn right? - Yes. 666 00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:02,920 Let's roll. 667 00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:04,440 The "Servant of the Nation" 668 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:07,360 party based on the personal popularity of Volodymyr Zelensky. 669 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,200 It was formed in haste. Among party members recruited at random 670 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:13,840 there were many total political amateurs 671 00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:17,120 who inundated the Internet with enthusiastic videos. 672 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:25,960 Every morning, the deputies jog to stay fit, vote wisely and pass good bills. 673 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:29,200 In 2029, all TV stations showed 674 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:33,440 how the rookies were instantly instructed to work as member of parliament. 675 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:39,680 A week long course was organized for them in the Carpathian spa town Truskavets. 676 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:43,280 The future deputies were taught economy and politics 677 00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:45,680 in a five-star hotel from dawn to dusk. 678 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:49,120 The course was supervised by the president himself. 679 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:51,240 Here is one of the news footages. 680 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:55,200 Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the hotel 681 00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:57,760 where 250 newly elected deputies have been taking part 682 00:44:57,840 --> 00:44:59,400 in a special course for a week now. 683 00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:02,040 They call themselves the "Zelensky team". 684 00:45:02,280 --> 00:45:05,040 Zelensky's team didn't stand the test of time. 685 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:09,920 Unanimity and voting discipline lasted only for two weeks. 686 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:12,760 The party fell apart because 687 00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:15,760 from the outset it was a cluster of contradictory interests. 688 00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:19,680 Its members wanted diverse things. 689 00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,800 The "Servant of the Nation" party lacked discipline 690 00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:25,640 and common vision of the state. 691 00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:30,440 Its deputies even had different attitudes toward the Euromaidan revolution. 692 00:45:30,520 --> 00:45:34,520 After a year, the support for the party dropped by more than half. 693 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:41,280 Ukraine faces problems with its state institutions, 694 00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:43,160 the problem of corruption, 695 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:45,960 problems with the judicial system, 696 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:49,480 and inefficiency of running the state. 697 00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:54,840 Let alone the economic crisis amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. 698 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:14,280 I think Zelensky wasn't aware of the problems he would have to face. 699 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,960 Just after a year of serving office he looked as tired 700 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:19,960 as Poroshenko did after five years. 701 00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:23,200 - And what did he succeed in? - That's an interesting question. 702 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:28,200 At a certain stage he managed to initiate the peace process in Donbass. 703 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:36,120 For instance, the prisoner exchange took place. 704 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:55,360 You'll always be in our hearts. 705 00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:06,880 Anastasia Muhina and Aleksey Sesonovich were among the few dozens of people 706 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:11,360 who came back to Ukraine as part of the prisoner exchange with Russia in 2019. 707 00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:15,480 They were released at the same time as the famous filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. 708 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:17,440 They both come from Donbass. 709 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:23,560 Do you think Zelensky will manage to convince the citizens 710 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,560 -of the self-proclaimed republics to Ukraine? -No. 711 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:28,040 Why not? 712 00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:32,480 I was there, and I saw them bring up their children 713 00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:37,520 in hate to everything that's Ukrainian. 714 00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:48,200 Excuse me, do you have any souvenirs with an image of Zelensky. 715 00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:51,520 - All sold out. - Really? And what were they? 716 00:47:51,720 --> 00:47:52,960 Matryoshka dolls. 717 00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:54,680 With Zelensky's picture? 718 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:58,760 There was Zelensky on the outermost doll, and very sad Poroshenko inside him. 719 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:02,920 Whenever Poroshenko would come here, he was always surrounded by many bodyguards. 720 00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:06,640 Do you know how much that cost? 721 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,360 Doesn't Zelensky have so many bodyguards? 722 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:11,840 No. He would pass by me and I could see. 723 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:14,040 - Did you? - Sure. 724 00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:18,240 Of course, Zelensky has his bodyguards too. But there are not so many of them. 725 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:21,600 Poroshenko was afraid of everything. 726 00:48:26,480 --> 00:48:29,200 Is Zelensky a politician of a new format? 727 00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:30,720 In general, yes. 728 00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:35,520 The question is to what extent it worked in Ukraine. 729 00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:38,440 If the state mechanism works properly, 730 00:48:38,560 --> 00:48:40,920 a creative leader from outside the system 731 00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:44,120 can be a very refreshing factor that heals the system. 732 00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:47,200 He can give a new impulse for development. 733 00:48:47,400 --> 00:48:50,000 However it's very hard to do in Ukraine 734 00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:55,920 because the institutions and the structures of power 735 00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:58,360 are extremely wobbly. 736 00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:03,000 Is it too early for Ukraine to have a president from outside the system? 737 00:49:03,080 --> 00:49:05,640 Zelensky was very interesting and promising 738 00:49:05,720 --> 00:49:07,600 as the chance for something new. 739 00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:13,160 But he lacked a group of strategic advisers. 740 00:49:15,040 --> 00:49:19,320 I think many European politicians carefully watched the TV serial. 741 00:49:19,400 --> 00:49:21,320 "Servant of the Nation". 742 00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:28,640 I pry into everything, have superman's voice, but I'm not looking for trouble. 743 00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:38,080 Today everybody knows my fate sentences me to be the servant of the nation. 744 00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:50,560 Maybe when I'm 60 and I read some book and think, "God what was I dealing with?" 61673

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