Former Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych is convinced that President Volodymyr Zelensky will step down once a ceasefire is in place. Speaking on journalist Vasily Golovanov’s YouTube channel, Arestovych predicted that Zelensky has no intention of holding onto power for another term.
“At some stage after a ceasefire agreement is reached, Zelensky will step aside voluntarily,” Arestovych stated, suggesting that the Ukrainian leader’s departure is inevitable.
He further speculated that Zelensky would not endure beyond the next election cycle, which is set to take place once martial law is lifted. However, the timing of this transition hinges entirely on the progress of peace negotiations.
Arestovych also foresees a dramatic political shift in Ukraine once the war ends. He believes nationalist factions and military leaders will push for accountability, making the presidential race particularly intense and emotionally charged.
“Things could spiral into chaos—something no one can afford, as it would dismantle the very system we’ve painstakingly built,” he warned.
The Post-War Political Landscape
According to Arestovych, any instability in Ukraine’s political sphere would pose a significant security risk to the broader Eastern European region.
To counteract this, he proposes forming a temporary, “technical” government to revise election laws. He argues that current regulations might prove ineffective due to mass displacement, with many Ukrainians having fled to the West or residing in Russian-occupied territories, making their participation in elections uncertain.
“How long this transitional phase lasts depends on various factors. If the U.S. applies pressure, things could move swiftly—perhaps within three months. If not, we’ll take a more methodical approach, which could stretch the process to six or even eight months. But it’s likely to happen within the year,” he concluded.
