“The real question is when we will be able to hold elections,” Mr Zelensky said. “They will definitely take place after the war ends, not during a temporary truce.” He also said he has not yet decided whether he will run in the next presidential election. “I am not at all sure that I will run. I will see what Ukrainians want,” he said. Ukrainian national elections, originally due in early 2024), remain postponed due to the ongoing full-scale invasion by Russia. Under Article 19 of the Ukrainian law “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law,” holding national elections during a state of emergency is explicitly prohibited. Martial law was most recently extended last month and is currently set to remain in effect until May 4.

In December, Mr Zelensky said he was ready to hold presidential elections if international partners could ensure security during the process. He also expressed readiness to amend legislation on elections during martial law and said he was awaiting proposals from parliament. Then, in February, the Ukrainian leader stated that his country would be prepared to hold elections in the event of a two-month ceasefire and proposed that Russia also cease hostilities to conduct its own elections.

While Mr Zelensky’s international standing remains strong, his administration was dealt a significant blow in late 2025 over a major corruption scandal involving senior government figures and the energy sector. In November, Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies – the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) – revealed that some of Mr Zelensky’s close associates were allegedly involved in a plot to skim around $100million (£75million) from Ukraine’s energy sector.

The probe, which lasted 15 months and was called “Operation Midas,” involved 1,000 hours of wiretapping and resulted in the seizure of bags of cash. It led to the high-profile resignation of long-time Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak – Ukraine’s second-most powerful person at the time. Critics have argued that while Mr Zelensky himself has not been personally implicated, he has surrounded himself with “loyalists” rather than reformists.

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

Opposition figures and some civil society groups voiced concerns about the “Telemarathon” – the unified national news broadcast – calling it a tool of state censorship. There is also growing scrutiny over the concentration of power within the Presidential Office, which some argue has sidelined the Parliament and local mayors.

Responding to criticism over the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts, the president stressed that Ukraine has established independent institutions capable of combating corruption.

“I support them in every possible way, but investigations must be carried out by them,” he added.

According to the latest Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) data, around 61% of Ukrainians still trust Mr Zelensky – a significant drop from the over 90% seen in 2022, but a recovery from a dip following energy crises and the corruption scandal.

However, while approval remains high, only a quarter of Ukrainians explicitly want him to run again in post-war elections, with analysts noting a growing perception that Ukraine will require a renewal of the political core once the war is over.