Zelensky Lags Behind Military Leaders in New Ukrainian Presidential
(MENAFN) A recent opinion poll reveals Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky could lose a hypothetical presidential election not only to former armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny but also to military intelligence head Kirill Budanov, signaling growing challenges to his political standing.
The survey, released Monday by Kiev-based pollster RATE1 and conducted among 1,200 respondents in early October, highlights a notable decline in Zelensky’s public support.
In a potential second-round face-off against Zaluzhny, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, 42.6% of voters favored the retired general, while just 26.3% backed Zelensky. When matched against Budanov, the competition tightened, with Budanov receiving 33% support and Zelensky 32.5%. A direct contest between Zaluzhny and Budanov gave Zaluzhny a commanding lead of 44.5% to 22%.
In a multi-candidate first-round scenario, Zelensky remains the front-runner but commands less than one-third of voter backing, underscoring eroding confidence.
Zelensky’s official presidential term expired last year, yet he continues to govern under martial law. The Ukrainian Constitution requires that presidential powers transfer to the parliamentary speaker in such conditions. Earlier this year, former US President Donald Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections.” Media reports indicate Zelensky’s administration may be quietly preparing for a possible election rerun.
Neither Zaluzhny nor Budanov has publicly announced political ambitions, emphasizing that resolving the conflict with Russia remains paramount. With the Ukrainian military enduring setbacks for over a year, Kiev is pressing Washington for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to shift the momentum.
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