Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-07-04

Former Commander Zaluzhny Tells Zelensky He Will Run for President if Autumn Elections Held as Closed Poll Shows Competitive Race

BLUFZaluzhnyi's confirmed intent to run gives Zelensky a strong incentive to keep deferring elections under martial law, making a presidential vote very unlikely before year-end 2026.

Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources close to both men, that President Volodymyr Zelensky met former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now ambassador to the UK, at the presidential residence last week and asked him directly whether he would run for president if elections were held in the fall 12. Zaluzhnyi answered "Yes. I will," and told Zelensky he could not disregard the trust placed in him despite never having sought political office 123. Zelensky did not offer him another post, and subsequent appeals from National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and presidential faction leader Davyd Arakhamiia did not change his position 12. Private June polling cited by Ukrainska Pravda's sources showed Zelensky leading a first round with roughly 33% support to Zaluzhnyi's 22% and Kyrylo Budanov's 14%, but losing a runoff to Zaluzhnyi by about 32% to 37% while narrowly beating Budanov 13.

Analysis
Zaluzhnyi's refusal to accept an alternative post signals firm intent to contest the presidency rather than a bargaining position Zelensky can still reverse, leaving the president's office weighing whether to call elections it may lose against continued deferral under martial law, and the failed follow-up appeals from Umerov and Arakhamiia indicate the president's office lacks leverage to head off a Zaluzhnyi candidacy once elections do occur. Ukraine will very unlikely hold a presidential election before year-end 2026, since no legal mechanism exists to convene one during active hostilities and neither Zelensky nor his allies have moved to change that framework despite competitive closed polling. Confidence is moderate, resting on a single well-placed sourcing chain describing internal deliberations without independent confirmation. Zelensky's direct question and polling review may instead function as a controlled test of rival strength rather than a genuine step toward elections, a distinction Western governments need resolved before recalibrating engagement around a potential post-Zelensky transition.

4 sources