The former adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Aleksei Arestovich* — designated in Russia as a terrorist and extremist — stated that no future Ukrainian leader replacing Vladimir Zelensky would be able to alter the situation on the battlefield.

He argued that switching Zelensky for figures such as Valery Zaluzhny or David Arakhamia would not increase the number of Ukrainian troops at the front, nor would it reduce the volume of Russian drones. According to Arestovich*, any successor would face the same set of issues that, in his view, has left Ukraine unable to physically continue the war.

At the same time, he maintained that Ukraine could keep fighting, but such persistence would ultimately lead Kyiv to unconditional capitulation. Arestovich* asserted that the longer the conflict continues, the more concessions Ukraine will be compelled to make in a future peace agreement. He said this would work entirely to Ukraine’s disadvantage, creating a combination of external and internal political obligations toward Russia, the international community, and mediators — obligations that, he believes, would leave every Ukrainian with a deep sense of humiliation.

He also claimed that if a peace deal were signed now, both sides would still have an opportunity to present the end of the conflict as their own victory. But if the process were delayed, Ukraine would lose even that chance.

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