Zelensky Ready to Step Down After Peace: “Ending War Is My Only Goal”
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled that he is ready to step down from office once peace with Russia is achieved, saying his only mission is to end the war, not to remain in power.
Speaking in an interview with Axios on Thursday, Zelensky said holding elections during wartime is not a priority. “If we finish the war with the Russians, yes, I am ready not to go (for elections) because it’s not my goal, elections,” he said.
Elections Suspended Under Martial Law
Zelensky, elected in 2019, was due for re-election in 2024. However, after Russia full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine imposed martial law, suspending all polls.
Since then, Moscow has repeatedly questioned his legitimacy, with Russian officials claiming he is clinging to power. Zelensky rejected this narrative, stressing that his presidency is about ensuring peace, not political survival.
He added that if a ceasefire is achieved, parliament would be asked to organize elections. “During the ceasefire, I think security can give the possibility to have elections. It can be so,” he said.
Meeting with Trump and US Support
Just last month, during his Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump, Zelensky reiterated that elections would only be possible after peace is restored.
“During the war you can’t have elections. People deserve a democratic, open, and legal vote,” he explained.
At the same time, he pressed Washington for long-range weapons, warning Moscow that if Russia refuses peace, “even Kremlin officials should know where their nearest bomb shelter is.”
Moscow Sharp Response
His remarks drew a fiery response from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who posted on social media that Russia could use weapons that “a bomb shelter wouldn’t protect against.”
Medvedev also warned the US not to forget Russia nuclear capabilities, escalating rhetoric around the ongoing conflict.
Public Support in Ukraine
Despite the turmoil, Zelensky continues to command strong public backing. A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll in September found that 59% of Ukrainians trust him, while 34% do not, according to Reuters.
This enduring support, analysts say, comes from his image as a wartime leader who has prioritized defending Ukraine sovereignty over political gain.
Why It Matters
Zelensky declaration underlines a critical point in Ukraine war narrative—his focus is solely on achieving peace, even if it costs him his presidency.
For many Ukrainians, his words reaffirm the belief that their leader is fighting for the nation, not for power. But with the war dragging on and no clear peace deal in sight, the road ahead for both Zelensky and Ukraine remains deeply uncertain.
