Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine says he is ready to leave after the war if it guarantees peace and security
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was not holding on to his post and was ready to leave it after the war, when the security of the state is guaranteed. He said this in the Meischberger talk show on the German TV channel ARD, Politico reports.
“I am ready for anything, just anything. For a long and lasting peace. As a person, as a citizen, as a father. I am not clinging to anything,” Zelenskyy stressed.
“I am the president of Ukraine because 73% of people voted for me. And today I am the president because I am supported by the majority in my country,” he added.
These words were a response to the host’s question whether Zelenskyy would be willing to resign if it was a condition of a peace deal – for example, if Russia demanded “peace only without Zelenskyy”.
“I am an inconvenient person for Putin”
The President stressed that Moscow wants to get rid of him as a political leader. If at the beginning of the full-scale invasion it was planned to do this physically, now the Kremlin is trying to act politically.
“And this is quite understandable. I am a very inconvenient person for Putin,” Zelenskyy said.
Liberal values in times of war
The Ukrainian leader also acknowledged that war always requires certain restrictions on freedoms, even in a democratic state.
“I’m one of the most liberal people, but the war makes you limit certain freedoms,” he said.
Nevertheless, the President stressed that the basic democratic values remain unchanged, and the restrictions are temporary measures caused by the threat to the existence of the state.
What’s next?
Zelenskyy did not specify whether he was considering a voluntary resignation after the war. However, his words may signal to international partners that he is ready to put the interests of the state above political ambitions.
At the same time, Russia continues to insist on ultimatum demands in any peace talks, and Zelenskyy’s resignation is one of its strategic goals.
