Zelensky says he's ready to step aside after war ends

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that he is ready to step aside after Russia’s war ends, telling Axios he would not pursue a second term because his goal is to finish the conflict. “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 said in the interview. The remark marks a stark departure from a political stance he has maintained since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, when Kyiv moved to curb political uncertainty under wartime conditions and martial law.

Ukraine’s five-year presidency, which began in 2019, has been shadowed by the war and the postponement of the next election. The March 2024 ballot was delayed indefinitely as Kyiv maintained a state of emergency and national mobilization. Some American critics had used the delay to question Zelensky’s political plans, with former President Donald Trump at times labeling him a potential autocrat, though Zelensky’s latest comments suggest a possible pivot toward a postwar mandate rather than a perpetual wartime leadership. Reuters reported on Zelensky’s broader remarks, which also touched on governance beyond the immediate fighting. During the interview, Zelensky indicated that Ukrainians might prefer a leader with a fresh mandate to guide the country after the war. He also left open the possibility of holding elections during a cease-fire, saying, “During the cease-fire, I think security can give the possibility to have elections.”

The remarks come as Zelensky and Washington explore options to pause the fighting for longer-term negotiations. The Ukrainian leader met Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly with former President Donald Trump, telling Fox News host Bret Baier that he and Trump have “better relations than before.” Trump, for his part, issued a statement stating that Russia is a “paper tiger” and predicting Ukraine could reclaim all Moscow-occupied territory and potentially go further. The exchange underscores how Kyiv seeks renewed international attention to win support for a postwar settlement even as the war rages on.

The current conflict remains deeply entrenched. Russia has continued bombardments across multiple Ukrainian regions, and analysts note that roughly 20% of Ukraine’s land is occupied by Russian forces. In Kyiv’s view, that reality underscores the urgency of a sustained international effort to secure a cease-fire and a framework for a longer-term peace agreement. While Western leaders have shown openness to a pause in hostilities to negotiate a settlement, Moscow has repeatedly rejected such approaches, complicating the path to a durable resolution.

Zelensky’s comments also reflect a broader theme in Ukraine’s postwar planning: defining political leadership for a country that hopes to rebuild and reform after victory. By suggesting that elections could occur during a cease-fire and that a new mandate might be desirable, Zelensky appears to acknowledge that Ukraine may need a different political rhythm once the immediate threat recedes. Officials and analysts say such a shift would depend on public support, security guarantees, and the ability to run a credible, transparent process under wartime constraints. Whether Ukraine will proceed with elections during or after a cease-fire remains a live question for Kyiv and its international partners, with no definitive timetable in place.

As the war enters another phase of intensity and diplomacy, Zelensky’s openness about stepping aside may influence how Ukraine navigates its domestic political horizon and how foreign partners calibrate their commitments to a postwar reconstruction and governance framework. The statements, drawn from interviews and public remarks, highlight the evolving calculus of a nation seeking both victory on the battlefield and legitimacy in its democratic institutions as it moves toward a possible postwar era.