Two Presidential Candidates Walk Into a Bar

Out of Order

More than five years after the Euromaidan, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko is battling for his political life against Volodymyr Zelensky – a comedian and political newcomer who has emerged as the favorite to win Sunday’s runoff. The story of political outsider-turned-president may be a familiar one for anyone who has watched “Servant of the People” a comedy (now available on Netflix) in which Zelensky plays just that—a teacher thrust into the presidency unexpectedly. In real life though, Zelensky’s plans for leading Ukraine remain uncertain against an ongoing conflict with Russia, economic stagnation, and internal corruption.

On this episode of Out of Order, GMF’s resident Ukraine watcher and senior fellow, Jonathan Katz, weighs in on what’s at stake this weekend as Ukrainians cast their votes. Katz travelled to Ukraine last month as an election monitor during the first round of voting, and he also chairs the Transatlantic Task Force on Elections and Civil Society in Ukraine.