Volodymyr Zelensky s overwhelming election victory in 2019 was based on the hopes for peace of the vast majority of the Ukrainian people. His de facto nonexistent election platform was thereby replaced by his performance as Ukrainian president in a popular television series.
Historically, Russia has long held Ukraine to be a part of its sphere of influence. But Ukrainians have always tried to move away from Russia, which Moscow vehemently objected to.