Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky voted 'most powerful person in Europe'

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has been voted the most powerful man in Europe.

Readers of POLITICO took part in an “Audience Choice” online poll to amend a list of the most powerful people in Europe this year, which was originally published last December and created by the publication's editorial team.

The publication originally named Italy's prime minister Mario Draghi as the most influential player in the continent but due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, readers thought Zelensky had done enough to earn the top spot.

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Zelensky has indeed become a popular figure in the war. He has received praise for a number of speeches he has made as the fighting has intensified and comedian Amy Schumer has said she wants him to appear at the Oscars.

In his most recent address to his nation, he praised Ukraine forces for taking back territory seized by Russia and accused Russian forces of blocking a humanitarian convoy trying to take desperately needed aid to Mariupol.

He said people in the city were facing "inhumane conditions".

If only the war could be won on popularity.

The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page.

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