Ukraine's 'Iron General' refutes rumours he is 'quietly preparing to run for president' to replace Zelensky

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK on Wednesday denied rumours he 'is quietly preparing a run for President' from his London HQ should peace break out.

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi's team were forced to play down the claims stating that 'there is no talk of any campaign headquarters'.

It followed posts by a journalist that 'his HQ is already active in London and recruitment is underway'.

They claimed sources had told them his campaign had 'effectively begun' after Volodymyr Zelensky told Donald Trump that elections may be coming soon.

Zaluzhnyi, known affectionately as the Iron General, would be a front-runner to defeat Mr Zelensky as he is remembered fondly for marshalling the heroic defence of Kyiv in 2022.

He was then replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief and sidelined as Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK in July last year.

Freelance journalist Katie Livingstone said sources had told her the Ukrainian opposition MP Viktoria Siumar would run any campaign with former BBC Ukraine reporter Oksana Torop handling his press.

Kyiv Post Correspondent Jason Jay Smart said he had confirmed the claims, adding: 'Sources indicate that he gave the go-ahead to his team, over a month ago, to start planning his campaign.'

But Ms Torop last night denied the rumours. She told the New Voice of Ukraine: 'There is no talk of any campaign headquarters.

'Valerii Zaluzhnyi has stated his position more than once, and as far as I know, it has not changed: while the war continues, we need to work to preserve the country, not think about elections.'

Zaluzhnyi is Ukraine's most trusted public figure with recent polling finding 73 per cent of Ukrainians trust him compared with 67 per cent for Zelensky.

While there is no immediate risk of Volodymyr Zelenskyy being replaced, his position faces challenges from declining wartime approval ratings, internal political pressure, and ongoing external threats. Under Ukraine’s current martial law, elections cannot be held, but public opinion polls and potential challengers indicate future political vulnerabilities.

Internal political challenges; Wartime fatigue and falling trust: After initially soaring to near 90% in 2022, Zelenskyy’s trust rating has decreased over time. While polling data from early 2025 showed a slight rebound, likely in response to foreign criticism, his approval ratings remain lower than his wartime peak. A June 2025 poll showed his trust rating dropping to 65%.

Zelenskyy would face a significant challenge in a future election from Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Multiple polls have indicated that Zaluzhnyi, a highly popular figure, could potentially defeat Zelenskyy in a run-off election.
Gaps in leadership approval: While Zelenskyy’s personal approval remains relatively high, approval for Ukraine’s broader national leadership is significantly lower. This indicates that while many Ukrainians still trust their president, they are more critical of the government’s overall performance.

Public perception of government corruption in Ukraine remains widespread, which could erode trust in the current leadership over time. Gallup polling in 2025 found that 85% of Ukrainians believe government corruption is widespread.

Zelenskyy’s presidential term was scheduled to expire in May 2024. However, Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during wartime, and the parliament has repeatedly voted to extend martial law. This has created a legal impasse that ensures he remains in power until the war ends.

Russia has used the postponed elections to cast doubt on Zelenskyy’s legitimacy and sow internal division. This disinformation campaign aims to destabilize Ukraine by undermining trust in the country’s wartime leadership.

US pressure under Trump: Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Ukrainian elections and falsely claimed Zelenskyy has low approval ratings. Some speculate that a new Trump administration could pressure Kyiv to hold elections prematurely, though the Ukrainian parliament has affirmed that no elections will be held until martial law is lifted.

Despite the political headwinds, Zelenskyy’s position appears secure for now due to the ongoing war. His continued leadership is seen as vital for maintaining national unity and securing international military support. The consensus among Ukrainian officials and most of the public is that holding elections during the conflict is logistically impossible and politically destabilizing. The issue of his potential replacement will likely not be seriously addressed until the war with Russia concludes.

A June 2025 poll showed his trust rating dropping to 65%....The consensus among Ukrainian officials and most of the public is that holding elections during the conflict is logistically impossible and politically destabilizing.

Z's two main rivals have also publicly opposed any elections during wartime, for the simple reason that Z would be re-elected to a new five-year term. After the war, as with England after WW2 and Churchill, Z would probably lose.

Ukrainian opposition leaders Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko have dismissed the possibility of elections in the country during Russia's full-scale invasion after media reports suggested US officials had approached them about the idea. (March 6, 2025)

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-opposition-elections-poroshenko-zelenskyy/33338598.html

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