Zelenskyy surprised the troops with appearing at the front lines.

A Ukrainian soldier reports:

“Ze’s arrival was such a furious mess that there are questions about his sanity. A comrade from another brigade called back and said, “He’s walking around, talking. The guys are showering him with chevrons. No pathos. No feeling of a big headed boss man. He’s insane to visit here, but he’s awesome. He’s lifted my spirits.”

In Soviet schools, they were downplaying the role of an individual in history. Marxism didn’t believe in the role of an individual; Marxism believed in the “historical necessity.”

I disagree:

• Russia didn’t have to have Putin. It could have had Nemtsov or Navalny, and it would be a different country today.
• The U.S. didn’t have to have Trump. Putin helped Trump to get elected, but it wasn’t inevitable — Germans didn’t vote for AfD, despite Putin’s and Musk’s best efforts.
• Ukraine didn’t have to have Zelenskyy when Putin invaded. (Putin actually helped Zelenskyy to get elected! Yeah, Putin saw him as a soft target.)

Ukraine was lucky to have Zelenskyy.
Europe was lucky to have Zelenskyy.
The West was lucky to have Zelenskyy.

But it were the Ukrainians who elected him and stood by him.

Without the support of 30 million of the Ukrainians in Ukraine — and 10+ million of the Ukrainians abroad — and the support of every person in western countries who liked, commented, posted, reposted, voted, donated, and answered surveys — this heroic resistance wouldn’t be possible.

The effort isn’t equal.
The Ukrainian military should get the full credit.
They are the heroes of this war.

But the war will be won by the people of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy happened to be their leader.
The right leader.