Zelenskyy: Russians mistakenly hope for leader who will pander to Putin after Ukraine’s elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Russians have a false expectation that a pro-Russian leader may come to office in Ukraine if elections were held.

Source: Zelenskyy's interview with the German public broadcasting service ARD

Quote: "In my view, they have not given up on their desire [to remove me]. But where does this confidence come from that a pro-Russian person will take over if I have gone? We can talk about this in different ways, there may be internal challenges, but who said that [the president] would be someone who would kiss Putin's backside? That would hardly happen."

Background: Zelenskyy said in the same interview that he is willing to hold elections if security can be guaranteed. He has not ruled out taking part if they are held during the war, but added that he has not yet decided whether he would run once peace is achieved.

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