ZELENSKY-THE SOCRATES OF UKRAINE: A LEADER’S PERSONALITY TRAITS AGAINST EXTERNAL AGGRESSION.

The current war between Russia and Ukraine has shown the leadership personality traits of the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. This short piece is a comparative analysis of the #leadership personality traits of the Ukrainian political leader, Zelensky, in comparison with that of the ancient Greek philosopher, #Socrates, in a conflict situation. It enlightens that good decision making in a time of political challenge in any nation is tied to the state political leader’s attributes, such as the case of Ukraine.

Socrates’ Personality, the Conflict in Athens and his trial

Socrates?(470–399?BC), a Greek?philosopher from?Athens and one of the forefathers of?Western philosophy, was an unfathomable personality who authored no texts, yet earned history and global relevance. Most of his works are known through his students, Plato and others. Socrates got into trouble with the Athenian authority for questioning the legitimacy and authority of the gods and corrupting the youth of the city-state against the Athenian democracy. Consequentially, he was obligated to commit suicide by drinking hemlock, a deadly potion of a poisonous plant.

Confronted with death, his admirers, friends and students encouraged him to escape from prison and flee Athens, but he refused. He thought it was his legal responsibility to die by the same law he had lived with. He willingly executed his death by drinking the hemlock. Phaedo recounted the last moments of his death and concluded that Socrates was the wisest man.

Zelensky-The?Socrates of Ukraine

Zelensky has been the president of Ukraine?since 2019. The country is presently faced with?the Russian invasion that started on 24 February 2022 to force Ukraine to denounce and reject western democracy.?#Putin considered Ukraine’s allegiance with the West as a threat to the Russian communist ideology and an attempt to undermine Russia's global political hegemony. He thought the punishment for such loyalty was to invade Ukraine. ?Just as Socrates challenged the Athenian democracy and was sentenced to death, Zelensky and his people are facing violent attacks from the Russian Army for voicing their intention to sign up to western military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Zelensky said, “The enemy has marked me as target No. 1, my family as target No. 2. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state.” The U.S. government was set to help him and his families to flee Kyiv and avoid being killed by the Russian army, but he refused. “I want to fight; give me weapons, not a ride,” he said, an act of courage that gave Ukrainians hope and increased sympathizers within Russia and other parts of the world. He challenged the communism of #Russia as Socrates challenged the democracy of Athens, but did not accept Putin’s hemlock, as Socrates accepted the hemlock given to him by the Athenian authority.?

Zelensky possesses good leadership personality traits-courage, resilience and influence-that made him stand for his conviction and the people of Ukraine in the face of war. Had Zelensky left #Ukraine at the time of the Russian invasion, it would demoralise and demobilise the Ukrainians, and the attack would have been easy for the aggressor. Instead of escaping, he is leading his people to repel intending assaults from the second most powerful military in the world.

The wise leader of Ukraine, #Zelensky, refused to abscond when Russia was invading Ukraine. A leader’s #personality #traits determine the existence and future of any country. When a leader with courage, resilience and influence is in power, it makes it difficult for the nation to drown in the pool of #violent repression from its enemy.