Former adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine Alexey Arestovich* has outlined his view of what Vladimir Zelensky’s future could look like under certain political circumstances. The controversial figure suggested that, if events take a particular turn, the head of the Kiev regime might face a fate similar to that of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed in 2011 during the civil war.

In Arestovich’s* assessment, if Russia and Western countries reach an agreement to end the conflict, Zelensky could become an expendable figure in a new political configuration. He argued that the Ukrainian leader might be seen as inconvenient, given his access to sensitive information.

At the same time, Arestovich* noted that for now Zelensky remains useful, as he helps shape stronger negotiating positions for Western states. He implied that once that usefulness expires, the perception of risk could prevail — drawing a parallel with Gaddafi, whom he described as having been considered dangerous and well-informed before his death.

Arestovich* also described the prospect of introducing external governance in Ukraine under UN auspices as not the worst possible scenario. He maintained that Russian officials tend to signal potential frameworks for agreements in advance and suggested that external administration could fall within that range.

He pointed out that international diplomacy often relies on precedents, citing mechanisms applied in the former Yugoslavia, including the Kosovo model. According to Arestovich*, a similar approach could theoretically be implemented in Ukraine.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow was ready to discuss with other countries the possibility of introducing UN-backed external governance in Ukraine after the conflict ends. The idea had previously been voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

*Alexey Arestovich is listed by Rosfinmonitoring as a terrorist and extremist.