Kiev, Ukraine — Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky stepped into his new role as Ukrainian president with his inauguration on Monday, launching a new era for the country wracked by war and economic difficulties. A month after scoring a landslide election victory against incumbent Petro Poroshenko, the 41-year-old became Ukraine’s youngest post-Soviet president. Even setting a date for his inauguration took weeks of negotiations with hostile lawmakers, whom Zelensky exasperatedly called “petty crooks”. Uniquely for a first-time president, Zelensky had played the inauguration scene before – for laughs. His critics question how he will deal with the enormous challenges of the separatist conflict and ongoing economic problems.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 20, 2019 08:37 UTC