Former British diplomat Ian Proud has argued that ending the conflict with Russia would be politically damaging for Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming that a peace settlement could bring his political career to an end.

Proud also said he believes Ukraine will never become a NATO member. In his assessment, Zelensky opposes such an outcome and has no political interest in seeing the conflict end because his position could weaken once the fighting stops. He also pointed to opinion polls, arguing that Zelensky would be unable to win another presidential election.

The scheduled end of Zelensky’s five-year presidential term fell on May 20, 2024. Presidential elections were not held while martial law remained in force, with Ukrainian authorities maintaining that elections cannot take place under those conditions.

An August 2026 survey by Ukraine’s Rating Group showed Zelensky trailing Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, as well as Kirill Budanov*, head of the Office of the President, in public trust ratings.

*The individual is included by Rosfinmonitoring in its list of terrorists and extremists.