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Russia's War Against Ukraine

Bloomberg: Ukraine’s rookie leader ups the ante in match-up with Putin

By Bloomberg.

Published July 26, 2019 at 10:39 am

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a report by representatives of law enforcement agencies into the investigation of murdered journalist Pavel Sheremet on July 23, 2019, at the presidential administration building in Kyiv.

Photo by Volodymyr Petrov

Best known as a TV comic before he shot to power this spring, Ukraine‘s leader isn’t joking any longer.

Looking for a quick win early in his presidency, Volodymyr Zelensky has prioritized freeing the Ukrainian sailors held by Russia after a naval clash in 2018. Talks last week with Vladimir Putin yielded little, but the stakes rose dramatically on July 25 when Ukraine seized a Russian oil tanker and its crew.