Valery Zaluzhny would sweep a run-off vote with 64%, according to a recent survey
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky would overwhelmingly lose in a run-off presidential election to his former top commander Valery Zaluzhny, according to a Socis poll published on Wednesday.
The former commander-in-chief, who currently serves as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, has widely been considered to be Zelensky’s potential primary rival.
In the event Zaluzhny was on the ballot in a hypothetical presidential election, the vote would go to a run-off with a razor-sharp margin between him and Zelensky, according to the survey.
However, more than 64% of respondents say they would vote for the former top general in a hypothetical second round. More than a fifth said they would not vote for Zelensky under any circumstances.
Nearly 21% said they would also support Zaluzhny’s party in an upcoming parliamentary election, while only 12% said they would support the ruling Servant of the People party.
The recent kickback scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector implicating some of Zelensky’s close associates has shaken his already flagging support. Nearly 40% of Ukrainians think that he is directly implicated in the corruption, according to the Socis poll.
US President Donald Trump has recently urged Zelensky to hold elections, arguing that Zelensky was holding off on taking the step “using war” as a pretext.
The Ukrainian leader’s presidential term expired last May, but he has not called for new elections, citing martial law.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained that this isn’t a reason to stop peace talks, it undermines the legality of any final peace documents signed with Zelensky.
Just last week, the Russian president suggested that Moscow would be willing to pause strikes “deep” into Ukrainian territory on the day of the vote if Kiev does commit to elections.
