Except for Volodymyr Zelensky, there are none.

[GoodTaste]

The free world will always retain formidable advantages over its antidemocratic adversaries because we are better able to acknowledge our mistakes and correct them. But the cascading crises we face would challenge even the most inspired leaders. Except for Volodymyr Zelensky, there are none.
Source: NYTimes - Our Leaderless Free World

Does "Except for Volodymyr Zelensky, there are none" mean "Except for Volodymyr Zelensky, there are none (of the crises for him in Ukraine)"?

 

[5jj]

. But the cascading crises we face would challenge even the most inspired leaders. Except for Volodymyr Zelensky, there are none.

Except for V Z. there are none = no inspiring leaders.

 

[GoodTaste]

Except for V Z. there are none = no inspiring leaders.

That is, VZ is the only inspiring leader in the free world?

 

[probus]

That is, VZ is the only inspiring leader in the free world?

Yes, that is exactly what the NYT said.

 

[Rover_KE]

... in the opinion of the writer – Brett Stephens … whoever he might be.