Why Vladimir Putin has already lost this war; The Guardian, February 28, 2022

Yuval Noah Harari, The Guardian; Why Vladimir Putin has already lost this war

"Nations are ultimately built on stories. Each passing day adds more stories that Ukrainians will tell not only in the dark days ahead, but in the decades and generations to come. The president who refused to flee the capital, telling the US that he needs ammunition, not a ride; the soldiers from Snake Island who told a Russian warship to “go fuck yourself”; the civilians who tried to stop Russian tanks by sitting in their path. This is the stuff nations are built from. In the long run, these stories count for more than tanks."

The phone has become the Ukrainian president’s most effective weapon; The Guardian, February 28, 2022

Patrick Wintour, The Guardian ; The phone has become the Ukrainian president’s most effective weapon

"One leader’s office said: “We are in awe of him. He may not eventually be able to save Ukraine, or change Russia, but he is changing Europe.”

Take Saturday’s diplomacy. Zelensky said he opened another day on the diplomatic frontline with a phone call to Emmanuel Macron, followed as the day progressed with calls to the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, the Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, the president of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the Pope, the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, and finally a virtual nightcap with the British prime minister.

The day before, the number of calls was similar, all focused on requests for arms and tougher sanctions. Quite how Zelenskiy managed to make these calls, rally the home front, direct his army and sleep is hard to fathom. One who has heard him in action says: “He is very direct, very passionate and very practical.” But the calls have produced golden rewards for Zelenskiy and helped turn the tide."

Ukraine’s President Zelensky: In the streets of a war-rattled city, a hero is born; The Washington Post, February 26, 2022

 

 Sudarsan Raghavan

 and 

Siobhán O'Grady

, The Washington Post; Ukraine’s President Zelensky: In the streets of a war-rattled city, a hero is born

"“For all the talk of Russian information warfare, Zelensky had proven to be a master communicator,” Colin Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group, an intelligence and security consultancy, said in a tweet. “His messages have conveyed strength, empathy & fortitude. A case study in effective communication during war and a profile of courage on a level I can’t recall.”"

Defiant Zelensky Tells Leaders They May Not See Him Alive Again; Intelligencer, February 25, 2022

Benjamin Hart, Intelligencer ; Defiant Zelensky Tells Leaders They May Not See Him Alive Again

"As Russian troops encircle Kyiv, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has struck a defiant tone while allowing that his bravery may cost him dearly. In a video call with European Union leaders Thursday night, Zelensky told them, “This might be the last time you see me alive.”

In an address on Thursday an unshaven and casually dressed Zelensky had called himself “Target No. 1” but said Ukrainians “are not afraid of anything...

In remarks Friday, Putin sounded as detached from reality as he did when he declared war, labeling Ukrainian leadership “drug dealers” and “neo-Nazis” — a particularly outrageous claim considering Zelensky is Jewish."