Zelensky says he’s ready to step aside after Russia war ends

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he is ready to leave office once Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ends, telling Axios that his primary goal is to finish the war rather than seek a second term. The remarks come as Kyiv presses for a longer-term political framework and as Ukraine remains under martial law with its March 2024 presidential election postponed indefinitely.

“If we finish the war with the Russians, I’m ready not to go for the second term because it’s not my goal — elections,” Zelensky told Axios in a wide-ranging interview. He said his focus throughout the crisis was to stand with his country and guide it through the conflict. The postponement of the March 2024 vote has been a central point of domestic and international debate as Ukraine fights to defend its sovereignty while preparing for a potential postwar transition.

Zelensky acknowledged that Ukrainians may want “a leader with … a new mandate” to lead Ukraine into its postwar future, even as he kept the door open to a future in public life beyond the current term. He also left open the possibility of holding elections during a cease-fire with Russia, saying that security arrangements could enable a vote if conditions allow. “During the cease-fire, I think security can give the possibility to have elections,” he said. “It can be so.”

The interview coincided with a flurry of high-level engagements as Zelensky sought to balance wartime leadership with signals about governance and legitimacy after the conflict subsides. He met with former President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, with Zelensky telling Fox News host Bret Baier that he and Trump have “better relations than before.” Trump, for his part, issued a blistering statement labeling Russia a “paper tiger” and suggesting Ukraine could reclaim all Moscow-occupied territory and perhaps more.

Russia has continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities despite efforts led by Washington to broker peace and facilitate a longer-term settlement. Ukrainian and U.S. officials have repeatedly signaled support for a pause in fighting that could pave the way for negotiations while avoiding a permanent peace deficit that would crystallize Moscow’s gains. Roughly 20% of Ukrainian land remains under Russian occupation, underscoring the fragility of any cease-fire framework and the immense political tasks ahead for Kyiv after the war.

In the broader context, Zelensky’s remarks reflect a willingness to contemplate governance changes in the postwar period while underscoring that national survival and the defeat of aggression remain his immediate priorities. The comments also align with a nuanced approach to elections during extraordinary times, suggesting that Ukraine’s political trajectory could be redefined by the outcome of the conflict and the terms of any cease-fire agreement.

As Kyiv navigates its domestic timetable amid ongoing fighting, Western allies have emphasized the importance of maintaining military and financial support while pursuing diplomatic options. Zelensky’s openness to a postwar mandate and to elections during a cease-fire adds a complex layer to the political calculus surrounding Ukraine’s path out of the war and toward governance under new post-conflict conditions.