Ukrainian President Zelensky says he is ready to leave office after the war ends
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his top priority is ending the war with Russia, and that he is ready not to run for re-election after the conflict ends. The statement comes as Ukraine's presidential election is suspended due to martial law.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected in 2019, has said he is ready to step down after hostilities with Russia end.
Speaking in a video interview with Axios published on September 25, Mr. Zelensky affirmed: "If we end the war with the Russians, yes, I am ready not to run, because that is not my goal."
He emphasized his role in difficult times: "I really want, in this extremely difficult period, to be with my country, to help my country. My goal is to end the war."
Mr Zelensky also said he would ask the Ukrainian parliament to hold elections if a ceasefire agreement is reached. The presidential election in the country, which was supposed to take place in 2024, was suspended under martial law after Russia launched its military operation in February 2022.
Although Russia has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Mr Zelenskiy's leadership due to the postponed election, the former comedian has maintained a high level of popularity among the Ukrainian public.
Throughout more than three and a half years of war, he has remained in the public eye through daily messages on social media, visits to troops near the front lines and international diplomatic activities. A poll conducted in early September by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that about 59% of Ukrainians trust Mr. Zelensky, while about 34% do not.
This week, President Zelensky was in the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly and meet with US President Donald Trump. He said Kiev was looking for new long-range weapons from the United States.
In an interview with Axios, Mr Zelensky warned that if Moscow refused to end the war, Russian officials working in the Kremlin should know where the nearest bomb shelter was.
Immediately, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, responded to Mr. Zelensky's challenge. Mr. Medvedev wrote on social media: "Russia can use weapons that cannot be protected by a bomb shelter. And Americans should remember this."
In other developments related to the conflict, Russia has frequently carried out attacks using hundreds of drones and missiles. Ukraine has also responded with long-range drone attacks targeting Russian military assets and energy infrastructure, albeit on a smaller scale.