Will Zelenskyy run in Ukraine's next presidential election? Expert analyzes chances to win

He shared this opinion during a broadcast on Espreso.

"After the war, parties based on combat units led by well-known military figures may emerge because trust in the military today exceeds 90%. It is entirely possible that if elections take place some time after the end of the active phase of the war, we could see the formation of such military-political forces. These forces may not only compete but leave the 'Servant of the People' party and others far behind. This type of competitor is feared today, which is why there are discussions about holding elections as soon as possible," Koshel noted.

In his opinion, it would be logical to hold elections after demobilization so that military personnel could exercise their voting rights—not only to vote but also to run for office and be elected.

"Regarding Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chances, I think any president of any country at any time has a chance of being re-elected. In Ukraine, the presidential model effectively grants the president full control, so the incumbent has all the levers needed for re-election. However, I believe his chances are minimal. Firstly, there’s the factor of Valeriy Zaluzhny, who is not just a competitor but a leading figure in political life, capable of garnering widespread public support," the head of the CVU commented.

He added that during the acute phase of the war, self-censorship is in effect—no one attempts to sharply criticize the president to avoid undermining trust in state institutions.

"After the active phase of the war ends, believe me, the president will face criticism for everything—from barbecues on May holidays to the demining of Chongar and much more. As a result, trust in the president and his ratings could quickly collapse because a real opposition will emerge. Therefore, I believe it is far from certain, and a big question remains whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy will run at all in the next elections"
 

• The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, claims that Ukraine is ready to hold elections immediately after the end of the war with Russia and the establishment of a just peace.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that elections are possible only after the end of the hot phase of the war and after martial law ends.