Zelenskyy confident Ukraine's next president will defend country rather than accept Putin's terms

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that if Ukraine holds a presidential election, the new leader will not strike a deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin but will continue to defend Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy's remarks on the British political show Piers Morgan Uncensored

Details: The host reminded Zelenskyy of US President Donald Trump's statement that it was time for Ukraine to choose a "new leader who can make a deal" to end the war, because Zelenskyy "could have made many deals and, for some reason, he never does".

"He wants you out [of the office]," Piers Morgan said.

In response, Zelenskyy pointed out that another president had held office before him and had also stood up to Russia.

"By the way, when I became the president, Crimea and Donbas were partially already occupied. It was a new, by the way, president. President Trump has to know another president was in my chair. Then it was ATO – the Anti-Terrorist Operation – for a long period. Quite a long period. Till the full scale invasion began," the Ukrainian president noted.

"It meant that moving me [from my position], but it's a decision, of course, of our people. Yes. Not Trump, not Musk, not anybody in the world can choose the president or elect in other countries. But this is not the problem of the president – this moving me [from my position] – and I'm sure the new man or woman [to become president] will defend our country because, as I said, it's our home. How can you do it in other ways?" Zelenskyy said.

He added that the question might be whether someone could do it better or worse, but they will do it, because "in any way we speak about the Ukrainian president".

Asked whether he intended to resign, Zelenskyy said: "Not of course. It's my responsibility."

He also pointed out that holding elections in Ukraine was currently almost impossible because "each hour we have attacks".

Background:

• Trump accused Zelenskyy of being unwilling to end the war, saying it was time for Ukraine to "get a new leader" who would reach an agreement with Russia.
• This came after Trump announced an agreement with Putin on the supply of Russian diesel fuel to the US and global markets.
• Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to hold elections if Russia agrees to a full ceasefire for 60 days.
• Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian leader, claimed that Russia is unwilling to observe a 60-day ceasefire for elections in Ukraine, but Putin is supposedly ready to halt strikes only on election day.

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