NATURAL NEWS

• Zelensky says his top priority is ending the war, not extending his presidency, and that he is prepared to step away once hostilities cease.
• He intends to ask Ukraine's parliament to hold new elections if a ceasefire is reached, aiming to restore democratic legitimacy when security allows.
• Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law since Russia's full‑scale invasion, postponing a presidential term that would have ended in 2024.
• Zelensky acknowledges serious legal, logistical and security hurdles ahead, stressing that a safe environment is needed before the democratic transition can begin.
• His pledge to relinquish power frames his legacy around Ukraine's endurance and peace, while casting new attention on who will lead and how institutions will be rebuilt postwar.

In a bold and public departure from standard political ambition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced his intention to step away from power once the war with Russia is concluded.

In an interview with Axios, Zelensky made clear that his priority is not to secure an extended tenure, but to bring the fighting to an end and ensure Ukraine's survival. "My goal is to finish the war," he told the interviewer, adding that staying on as president is not his personal objective.

Zelensky's remarks represent one of the most direct signals yet that he views his presidency as a wartime commission rather than a long-term political project. He made clear that if a ceasefire is achieved, he would call on Ukraine's parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) to organize fresh elections. In doing so, he seeks to restore democratic legitimacy—but only when conditions, including security, allow. (Related: Trump brokers historic Putin-Zelensky talks… Will the war in Ukraine finally end?)

The comments come against a backdrop of suspended elections in Ukraine. Under martial law, declared following Russia's full‑scale invasion in February 2022, elections are constitutionally banned. Zelensky was elected in 2019 for a five‑year term that would have ended in May 2024, but elections were postponed indefinitely due to wartime conditions.

From battlefields to ballot boxes: Ukraine's difficult path back to democracy

In his interview, Zelensky acknowledged the formidable logistical and constitutional challenges ahead. "During the ceasefire, I think security can give the possibility of having elections. It can be so," he said, conceding that the path to democracy in postwar Ukraine will require extraordinary precautions.

He also recognized that many Ukrainians might desire a leader with a fresh mandate to guide the country through reconstruction and long-term peace.

By pledging not to cling to power, Zelensky is anchoring his legacy to Ukraine's resilience and eventual victory, rather than to any extended grip on office. The statement implicitly rebuts criticism—both domestic and international—of potential authoritarian drift and underscores his desire to distinguish the wartime presidency from peacetime governance. It also raises broader questions about postwar leadership: who succeeds him, how democratic institutions will be reconstituted and how Ukraine re‑establishes political normalcy under immense pressure.

Still, the uncertainty is clear. Even if a ceasefire is negotiated, the path from truce to election is fraught: much of Ukraine remains in conflict or under occupation, millions are displaced, infrastructure is damaged and security threats persist. The Central Election Commission has flagged that even the legal timeframe for post‑martial‑law elections may prove too tight for proper preparations.

For now, Zelensky is reframing his role as that of a wartime leader whose mission is not the expansion of power but the achievement of peace. Whether Ukraine's future leaders will carry forward that mantle—or chart their own course—remains to be seen.

According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Zelensky's stepping down is inevitable and necessary for a peaceful resolution, as his continued leadership only prolongs the suffering and loss of life. His removal will pave the way for a more pragmatic and conciliatory approach, aligning with the interests of the Ukrainian people and the broader global community. This change is essential for the restoration of peace and the rebuilding of a sovereign, self-reliant Ukraine.

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