Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reflected on his former career as an actor and comedian, saying he never imagined that one day he would find himself discussing a war devastating his country rather than entertaining television audiences.
“I was a clown. For a long time, I was on television, trying to make people laugh and doing stupid things,” Zelensky said in an interview with German satirist Jan Böhmermann for ZDF’s television programme Magazin Royale.
Addressing Böhmermann, who also built his career in comedy, Zelensky recalled that both men had worked in the entertainment industry but now found themselves in an entirely different reality.
“We both did that. And today we are sitting here and have to talk about war. What the hell happened?” the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky noted that Russia’s invasion has fundamentally transformed Ukrainian society, as well as his own personal life and professional career.
Asked whether he intended to return to comedy after the war ends, Zelensky described the entertainment industry as a good profession but did not reveal whether he planned to resume his former career.
“Being president is also good. It is hard work, a major challenge. You have to do everything possible to ensure that your country survives during the war,” he said.
During the interview, Zelensky also addressed the political influence of billionaire Elon Musk, US support for Ukraine, the possibility of holding elections during wartime and his request for Germany to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles.
