Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to leave office once the war with Russia concludes, emphasizing peace over personal political ambitions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that he is prepared to step down from his position once Russia’s war against Ukraine comes to an end. In an interview with Axios, Zelenskyy emphasized that his primary focus is achieving peace rather than securing another term in office.
“My goal is to finish the war,” Zelenskyy stated during the interview with Barak Ravid, which took place after his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and prior to his return to Kyiv.
When asked whether Ukraine would hold elections during a ceasefire, Zelenskyy was unequivocal in his response. “So do you commit that if tomorrow, President Putin agrees for a ceasefire of three months, six months, whatever, you will push forward to go for elections in Ukraine?” Ravid inquired. Zelenskyy replied, “Yes.”
Further pressed on whether he could envision leading Ukraine in a peacetime scenario, Zelenskyy reiterated his willingness to step aside once the war is concluded. “If we will finish the war with Russia? Yes,” he affirmed. However, he clarified that elections are not his personal ambition. “It’s not my goal, elections,” he explained. “I want it very much, in a very difficult period of time, to be with my country, help my country. Yes, that is what I wanted. My goal is to finish the war,” he stated.
Zelenskyy’s comments come at a time when Ukraine remains under martial law, a measure that has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Under martial law, elections cannot be conducted.
First elected in 2019 by a significant margin, Zelenskyy would have seen his five-year term conclude in May 2024 had the war not erupted. As it stands, he has been in office for over six years, surpassing his original mandate.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office for further comment.
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