Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is not aiming to cling to power. He shared this during a national broadcast of the All Ukraine telethon, signaling a commitment to democratic processes despite the ongoing crisis.
He emphasized that living with a lack of real choice for three, five, or seven years would be unacceptable and that a political culture fixated on power would be harmful. Zelensky underscored a clear desire for elections to take place, highlighting that leadership transitions should happen through ballots rather than through prolonged incumbency.
On August 27, he explained that with financial backing from Western partners, it would be feasible to conduct elections within Ukraine before hostilities end. He suggested that observers should be placed in dangerous conditions, including frontline trenches, to share the risk and ensure the integrity of the process. Zelensky also proposed that if Western countries provide support, approximately five billion dollars would be required to fund peacetime elections.
Previously, Olena Shulyak, the head of the presidential party Servant of the People, stated that elections in Ukraine could occur only after the end of hostilities. She noted that lawmakers are drafting legislative changes intended to shape the first post-war elections, though she did not detail what those innovations would entail.
Earlier, a Gallup poll indicated Zelensky’s standing in the United States surpassed that of both Trump and Biden, reflecting his significant influence and appeal within the country during the period studied.