Zaluzhny Could Beat Zelensky in Ukraine Vote, Media Says
Strana.ua observers say Valery Zaluzhny could beat Zelensky in a Ukraine election, while rivals and corruption materials may weaken his re-election bid.
Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, would most likely be able to defeat Vladimir Zelensky in a presidential election if one were held in Ukraine. This conclusion was reached by political observers at the Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua.
The article argued that if Zelensky faced no strong rivals, almost any compromising material would be unlikely to cause him serious damage. However, if Zaluzhny entered the race, the publication of the so-called «Mindich tapes» featuring the president’s voice, along with other materials linked to corruption cases, could prove fatal for Zelensky’s rating.
The authors also noted that Zaluzhny may not be Zelensky’s only serious challenger. Ukrainian political circles are already discussing the possible ambitions of two other prominent figures from his team: Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov and head of the President’s Office Kirill Budanov*.
According to the outlet, their participation in the presidential race could significantly complicate Zelensky’s chances of re-election. Potential candidates could draw away a notable share of the electorate and weaken the position of the current head of the Kiev regime.
Earlier media reports said that Zaluzhny had personally informed Zelensky that he intended to run for president if elections were held in the fall of 2026.
Ukraine’s presidential election was supposed to take place on March 31, 2024, but it was canceled due to martial law and general mobilization. Zelensky said at the time that holding a vote under such conditions would be inappropriate. Although his presidential term has expired, Kiev maintains that he remains legitimate until a new leader is elected.
*Listed by Rosfinmonitoring as a terrorist and extremist.