A 41-year-old comic who plays a president on TV could actually become Ukraine's next head of state after taking a commanding lead in the country's first round of elections.

Zelenski announced his candidacy for the 2019 presidential election on the night of December 31, 2018, overshadowing President Petró Poroshenko's New Year's Eve end-of-year speech on TV channel 1+1.

Explore Foreign Affairs’ coverage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including his rise as a comedian and politician, his handling of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his efforts to strengthen ...

Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenski speaks to his supporters at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2019.

Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenski speaks to his supporters at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2019.