In a recent Axios interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to step down once the conflict with Russia ends. "If we finish the war with the Russians, yes, I am ready not to go (for elections) because its not my goal," he said, emphasizing that his focus is on ending the war.
Since Russia launched its military operation in February 2022, Ukraine has been under martial law, putting the 2024 presidential vote on hold. Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, told Axios he would ask parliament to organize elections if a ceasefire is reached.
During his visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump and discussed Kyiv's request for new long-range weapons.
On a more pointed note, he quipped that if Moscow refuses to end the conflict, officials in the Kremlin should make sure they know where their nearest bomb shelter is. Yet, throughout, his message remains clear: end the war first, then politics.
With millions around the world watching Ukraine's next steps, Zelenskyy's post-war plans could reshape the nation's democratic future.
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Zelenskyy says he is ready to step down after conflict with Russia
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