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A year ago, on 21 April 2019 in #Ukraine, 73% of voters elected president @ZelenskyyUa as the new head of state. I voiced my multiple concerns about his candidacy back in spring 2019, and now I can tell you: I TOLD YOU SO.
Thread 1/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374742090334208
Thread 1/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374742090334208
My main concern was correct: @ZelenskyyUa's incompetence led to political instability, with cabinet reshuffles and key officials being dismissed. Policy was inconsistent - this inconsistency scares investors.
2/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374764840300544
2/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374764840300544
Zelenskyi brought back to the government roles many people who have served under Yanukovych. There has at least a partial revanche of the regime ancien.
3/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374793982324738
3/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374793982324738
Russia openly welcomed Zelenskyi's election, hoping that it would allow for Ukraine's capitulation on Donbas on Moscow's terms. Luckily, the response from the patriotic Ukrainians prevented Zelenskyi from agreeing to concessions to Russia.
4/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374819949203456
4/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374819949203456
Russia exploited Zelenskyi's foreign policy weakness (and lack of strong contacts with key leaders in Europe and NATO) to advance its agenda in Donbas, by issuing hundreds of thousands of Russian passports to residents in Donetsk and Luhansk
5/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374836365778951
5/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374836365778951
Zelenskyi fundamentally froze any advancement of Ukraine's relations with both EU and NATO. His current administration clearly signalled that these were no real priorities:
6/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374863708377089
6/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119374863708377089
Under Zelenskyi, oligarch influence over government and policy increased. Initially it was Kolomoiskyi, but recently Akhmetov and Pinchuk also installed their people into key positions of influence.
7/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119376353500041217
7/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119376353500041217
Zelenskyi demonstrated his disregard to Ukrainian language and culture. Yes, he speaks Ukrainian in official capacity, but his government slashed funding to Ukrainian culture. His former business continues to sell their products to Russia.
8/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119380181129551875
8/x https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119380181129551875
Overall, Zelenskyi's presidency was exactly what I expected. I have no idea why so many Western commentators served as his cheerleaders prior to the election. Zelenskyi is well on course to become one of the worst leaders of Ukraine.
9/9. Ze End. https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119383453966000134
9/9. Ze End. https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1119383453966000134
