Zelenskyy in list of most influential people in Europe Politico’s ranking shows

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has entered POLITICO’s list of 28 most influential people in Europe. He ranked 14th in the rating.

The publication called Zelenskyy a “joker in the deck” and recalled his feud with US President Donald Trump in February, which was “destructive.”

“Few believed relations could be repaired — but to the Ukrainian leader’s credit, they were,” the article read.

The outlet notes that Zelenskyy now needs to conclude a peace agreement that “won’t send him straight into Putin’s claws.”

“The Ukrainian president has grown used to playing defence. He will need all his adaptation skills to survive the next chapter,” the article stated.

US President Donald Trump took first place in the ranking. The top five also included Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the French party National Rally Marine Le Pen, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Next on the list are:

• British politician, head of Reform UK, Nigel Farage;
• President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen;
• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte;
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni;
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer;
• German politician and Member of the European Parliament from the Christian Social Union, Manfred Weber;
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban;
• President of Finland Alexander Stubb;
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
• French economist Gabriel Zucman;
• High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas;
• Spanish lawyer and political figure Teresa Ribera;
• President of France Emmanuel Macron;
• Former President of the European Central Bank, ex-Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi;
• Czech politician, founder-leader of the ANO party, Andrej Babiš;
• Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, American General Alexus Grynkewich;
• President of Poland Karol Nawrocki;
• Leader of the Left in Germany, Heidi Reichinnek;
• CEO of UniCredit Andrea Orcel;
• French lawyer, Member of the European Parliament, Rima Hassan;
• Dutch politician Rob Jetten;
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

 By Jeyhun Aghazada