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Ukraine’s unlikely wartime leader Zelenskyy instills hope

FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands with soldiers after attending a national flag-raising ceremony in the freed Izium, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File) FILE - Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks via video link at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) FILE - From left, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, and European Council President Charles Michel join hands after addressing a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, File) FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, and, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend a joint press conferencewith German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the Elysee Palace, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 in Paris. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (Sarah Meyssonnier, Pool via AP, File) FILE - Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, gestures as he welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File) FILE - President Joe Biden welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, react as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine's contested Donetsk province, as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) FILE - Romanian lawmakers listen to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech via video link, on a screen, in Romania's Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, April 4, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File) FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears on a large screen as he speaks via video conference during the 68th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Madrid, Spain, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas, File) FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes part in a national flag-raising ceremony in Izium, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File) FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a virtual address to Congress by video at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (Drew Angerer, Pool via AP, File) FILE - In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 16, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File) FILE - In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation via his phone in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File) FILE - In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to a servicemen report close to front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, June 5, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP, File) FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walks ahead of a press conference in a city subway under a central square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 23, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) FILE - Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets supporters before his inauguration ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File) FILE Ukrainian new President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a mace, the Ukrainian symbol of power, during his inauguration ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, and his wife Olena Zelenska celebrate a victory with their supporters at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the media at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy performs on stage during a show in Brovary, Ukraine, Friday, March 29, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arrives at a polling station, during the presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March. 31, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who played the nation's president in a popular TV series, and is running for president in next month's election, is photographed on the set of a movie, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) FILE - Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, leaves a booth at a polling station as his wife Olena Zelenska waits during the second round of presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, April 21, 2019. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) FILE - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in his office in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 9, 2022. A year ago, with Russian forces bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, Western leaders feared for the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the U.S. offered him an escape route. Zelenskyy declined, declaring his intent to stay and defend Ukraine’s independence. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)