Volodymyr Zelensky—comedian actor, Ukrainian president, defiant hero dealing with down Vladimir Putin's military.

But whereas extensively praised at residence, his emergence as a struggle chief has had an unplanned impact: uniting a divided America.

In latest days, politicians on Capitol Hill and cable TV hosts from both aspect of the divide, have come collectively to reward his management.

Zelensky is a "greater man" than Putin, mentioned GOP Senator Ben Sasse mentioned on Sunday.

A "lion of a frontrunner," is how Texas Republican Rep. August Pfluger described Zelensky in an op-ed for USA Immediately that very same day. "Daring braveness within the face of evil," he referred to as it.

"Unimaginable bravery," Democrat congressman Adam Schiff mentioned of Zelensky.

Amy Klobuchar, a former 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, shared Zelensky's self-shot video from Kyiv final week, during which he vowed to to remain and defend the capital in opposition to the Russian invasion.

The reward of Zelensky has even emerged from figures who've supported Putin.

Former President Donald Trump, who was repeatedly praised the Russian chief, referred to as Zelensky a "courageous man" throughout his speech on the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC) on Saturday.

Whereas former Hawaii Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has defended Putin's actions beforehand, pleaded to the Russian chief over Twitter on Sunday to finish the struggle.

"It is clear that the Russian folks and the Ukrainian folks each simply wish to stay in peace so I implore you finish this assault now earlier than it will get to the purpose of no return and the struggling turns into unimaginable," she mentioned.

In a uncommon signal of U.S. partisanship, lawmakers from either side additionally expressed assist for imposing harder sanctions on Putin as Zelensky's public picture elevated.

In latest days, GOP Senator Lindsay Graham and Schiff referred to as for Russia to be faraway from SWIFT—the community that connects hundreds of economic establishments all over the world—as a way to financially goal Russia for invading Ukraine.

"In the case of sanctions in opposition to Putin — If we're NOT doing every little thing attainable, we're NOT doing sufficient," Graham tweeted. "Time is NOT on our aspect."

Fox Information and CNN discover widespread floor

What's much more outstanding about Volodymyr Zelensky is that he has not solely garnered bipartisan assist in Washington, however has additionally has cable information channels as ideologically opposed as MSNBC and Fox Information praising his heroism.

Liberal anchors like MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and CNN's Don Lemon, seem like signing from the identical Zelensky hymn sheet as conservatives equivalent to Fox Information' Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson.

Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emerged as a brand new hero throughout Vladimir Putin's struggle in opposition to the nation. EMMANUEL DUNAND-AFP/Sasha Mordovets/Getty Pictures

Carlson—arguably one of the crucial influential figures by way of shaping the GOP—not too long ago expressed a shift in tone concerning the Russia-Ukraine battle.

Having initially downplayed the seriousness of the "border dispute," Carlson has since blamed the "tragedy" of the struggle on Putin.

"Vladimir Putin began this struggle, so regardless of the context of the choice that he made, he did it," Carlson mentioned on Thursday. "He fired the primary pictures."

Purple or Blue? Irrespective of. Everybody is seemingly in Zelensky's nook.

How Zelensky grew to become a hero to the West

He was elected in 2019 with an astonishing 73 p.c of a democratic vote, however within the final 12 months was more and more considered as out of his depth on the political stage.

Struggle chief Zelensky has modified all that. His defiant social media movies and dedication to stay within the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has received him previous and new followers.

One such video, during which Zelensky turns down a proposal from america to be evacuated out of Kyiv as a result of "I would like ammunition, not a experience," has since been considered greater than 18 million occasions on Twitter.

These clips have coincided with social media always abuzz with clips from his former life as a star, together with revelations he was the voice of the Ukrainian model of Paddingtonand received the Ukrainian model of Strictly Come Dancing.

Within the U.S., Zelensky was beforehand greatest recognized for being on the opposite aspect of the controversial 2019 phonecall from former president Donald Trump, the place he was accused of making an attempt to strain the Ukrainian president to examine Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, forward of forward of the 2020 election, which result in Trump's first impeachment.

The following impeachment trial and subsequent fallout was simply one other instance of the divisiveness the U.S. earlier than and after the Trump presidency.

Nevertheless, amid the struggle in Europe, Zelensky has managed to unite folks throughout the political spectrum and helped guarantee harder responses in opposition to Putin.

Lecturer Natasha Kuhrt, on the division of struggle research at King's Faculty London, advised Newsweek how Zelensky and his authorities have represented "a counterpoint to the authoritarian regime subsequent door" throughout the battle.

"In distinction to Putin, who receives even his personal officers on the finish of a really lengthy desk with an unsmiling, chilly and intimidating demeanor, as within the latest weird Safety Council assembly, Zelensky posts photos of himself and his Defence Minister on social media hanging out collectively in relaxed vogue, smiling and joking," Kuhrt mentioned.

"These might seem to be small issues however they've a huge impact.

"The truth that Zelensky was the voice of the Ukrainian model of Paddington and received the Ukrainian model of Strictly Come Dancing solely endears him additional—he presents a really human face and one which may be very relatable to us within the West, in contrast to Putin."

Kuhrt added that Zelensky's bravery in standing as much as Russia is a main instance of a "David and Goliath" story which has performed into the Ukrainian president's fingers.

"Russia had calculated that Ukraine would collapse inside just a few days, however the actuality is that Russia is struggling humiliating army losses," Kuhrt mentioned.

"In the end, whereas Putin's objective was to cease Ukraine from getting into the Western orbit, this has spectacularly backfired."

With America's political leaders and its information networks in lock-step, President Biden finds himself in a novel place of bipartisan assist for powerful actions in opposition to Russia.

"Biden clearly said that Russia is a pariah state, and this resonates throughout get together divides," mentioned Orysia Lutsevych, a analysis fellow on the London suppose tank Chatham Home.

"Biden has a bipartisan backing to play powerful on Russia and that is the place Ukraine and U.S. are allies," Lutsevych advised Newsweek. "Extra protection help must be urgently delivered to Ukraine."