Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former top general and now ambassador to the United Kingdom, has informed President Volodymyr Zelensky that he intends to contest the next presidential election, according to Ukrainian media reports citing sources close to both men. The meeting, held in Kyiv in mid-June, was ostensibly called to discuss the fallout from the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but quickly turned to the political calendar. When Zelensky asked directly whether Zaluzhnyi would run if elections were held in the autumn, the general replied, “Yes. I will.”

From the presidential camp, the move is seen as a challenge to national unity. Zelensky, according to the same reports, argued that a divisive contest could fracture society at a critical moment. He was prepared to offer Zaluzhnyi any senior government post, including prime minister, to avoid a confrontation. Envoys, including the secretary of the national security council and the parliamentary faction leader, later repeated the plea, asking Zaluzhnyi to “think again.” For his part, Zaluzhnyi is said to have explained that he had not sought a political career but could not ignore the trust placed in him by the public. The exchange underscores a deepening rift between the two men, whose relationship has been strained since Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal as commander-in-chief in February 2024, a move widely interpreted in Western capitals as an effort to sideline a popular rival.

The confrontation is unfolding against a backdrop of closed-door discussions within Zelensky’s inner circle about the feasibility of holding a vote this autumn. Ukrainian media report that a separate meeting of top officials—including the head of the presidential office, the defence minister, and the security council secretary—reviewed confidential polling data showing a modest recovery in Zelensky’s approval ratings after months of decline. The surveys suggest Zelensky would lead a first round with around 33%, followed by Zaluzhnyi at 22% and presidential office chief Kyrylo Budanov at 14%. However, in a runoff, Zaluzhnyi would defeat Zelensky by a margin of 37% to 32%, while a contest against Budanov would be too close to call. These numbers, if accurate, explain the urgency of Zelensky’s attempt to dissuade Zaluzhnyi from running.

Viewed from Moscow, the political manoeuvring is portrayed as evidence of Zelensky’s precarious hold on power. Russian state media and lawmakers have framed Zaluzhnyi as a dangerous competitor, with one Duma deputy noting that the general was “removed” precisely because of his high ratings. Western diplomatic sources, however, caution that no election date has been set and that the legal and logistical obstacles to holding a vote under martial law remain immense. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections during martial law, and any move to lift it would require a delicate political calculus. For now, the dossier remains in flux: Zelensky’s team is weighing whether to seize what it sees as a narrow window of electoral advantage, while Zaluzhnyi’s declaration has transformed a latent rivalry into an open contest for the country’s post-war leadership.