President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on April 23, 2026. (Byron Smith / Getty Images)Riding a wave of political momentum in 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a showman turned wartime leader, could have hardly imagined the path his presidency would take.Some argue that Zelensky's 2019 election was less of an endorsement of his political platform, a populist one, rather a rejection of the old entrenched elite seen as ineffective and corrupt.Years later, Zelensky still faces the domestic challenges that confronted his predecessors — issues he once promised to resolve. On the international stage, however, he has amassed significant support for Ukraine, actively working to maintain global backing as his country defends itself against a full-scale Russian onslaught.While his foreign policy is widely seen as competent and adaptive, experts view his domestic governance as a weaker spot.Volodymyr Zelensky is seen celebrating the announcement of the exit polls which give him 73 percent of the vote in the presidential elections in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 21, 2019. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)"Volodymyr Zelensky is a very controversial figure who can't be judged in black-and-white terms. He reflects the contradictions within Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian political process," political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told the Kyiv Independent."Zelensky continues to embody the conflicting moods of Ukrainian society, both on corruption and on the war."The war problemsThe defining challenge of Zelensky's presidency is now not only to continue fighting Russia's war, but also to bring it to a resolution on terms Ukraine can accept.The rhetoric coming from Kyiv has transformed throughout the full-scale invasion. At first, Ukraine's leadership spoke the language of endurance and national survival. Later, Zelensky and the country's leadership embraced the language of uncompromising victory.The approach shifted once more with Donald Trump's return to power in Washington. In response, Zelensky adjusted his tone, highlighting a commitment to peace and signaling willingness for a swifter resolution, provided Ukraine's core interests are preserved.President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (R) depart a joint news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., on Dec. 28, 2025. (Alex Brandon / AP)"The main challenge is how to get out of this war without losing dignity," Fesenko said. "How to get out of a war that has already dragged on, and where prolongation is a major risk for us, as well as for Russia."Experts see mobilization as Zelensky's biggest domestic challenge. Over the past four years, the issue, spanning demobilization, desertion, and fatal conflicts between civilians and draft officers, has become a deeply sensitive and politically fraught topic.