Won't seek re-election and will step down as president if war with Russia ends: Zelensky comments amid ongoing peace efforts

KIEV: Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to step down as Ukraine's president if the war with Russia ends. Zelensky said he will not contest the parliamentary elections if the war ends. The Ukrainian president made the comments in an interview with a TV channel. Elected president in 2019, Zelensky declared martial law in the country in 2022 following the war with Russia. Following this, the 2024 elections were postponed. Zelensky also said that stepping down as president would be a setback for the country if the war did not end.

Meanwhile, Russia has come forward with Zelensky's announcement as a weapon. Russia had earlier accused Zelensky of creating insecurity in the country by not holding elections. Diplomatic experts believe that Zelensky's new announcement will also lead to more criticism.