On February 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump to persuade him to continue US support for Ukraine. The encounter was not what the Ukrainian head of state had expected. Trump and US Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy in front of TV cameras for being “disrespectful” and refusing to embrace their initiative for a ceasefire with Russia.
It became evident that Zelenskyy would not return to Washington during Trump’s presidency. US pressure on Ukraine will notably escalate, as Trump pushes Kyiv to make significant concessions to Russia in return for peace. Before the meeting, the Trump administration questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy and pushed for presidential elections to be held. However, holding a rushed election to eliminate Zelenskyy could spell disaster for Ukraine.
Before Russia’s invasion, Zelenskyy’s approval ratings were as low as 28 percent. The invasion rallied Ukrainians behind the president, causing his popularity to reach record highs. However, in the past two years, his approval ratings have consistently declined. According to polls, trust in Zelenskyy fell from 54 percent in April 2024 to 49 percent in January.
Zelenskyy’s declining popularity has been attributed to rampant corruption and growing war fatigue. The Ukrainian president avoids competition, aware of his vulnerability. If he were to lose a re-election bid, he could face prosecution for corruption or retribution from his rivals, and current polls show he would lose.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a four-star general who was dismissed after a failed counteroffensive, has emerged as a formidable challenger. Polls show he would defeat Zelenskyy if he were to run in a presidential vote. Other potential candidates include Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Former President Petro Poroshenko, despite low approval ratings, remains a dangerous rival to Zelenskyy and has not hidden his political ambitions.
The Ukrainian political scene is marked by divisions within society. The war has intensified emotions and split the country, creating a volatile situation. If an election is imposed from abroad, it could prove more catastrophic than Russia’s invasion, and risk igniting a fight of all against all before a single ballot is cast. A rushed election in Ukraine that serves the political plans of a foreign power is a recipe for disaster. A vote should be held once there is a durable ceasefire that allows for all Ukrainians to cast their votes without the fear of polarization and conflict.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/3/2/trumps-attempt-to-topple-zelenskyy-through-elections-could-be-catastrophic?traffic_source=rss
