Ukraine‘s ambassador to the UK on Wednesday denied rumours he ‘is quietly preparing a run for President’ from his London HQ should peace break out.
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s team were forced to play down the claims stating that ‘there is no talk of any campaign headquarters’.
It followed posts by a journalist that ‘his HQ is already active in London and recruitment is underway’.
They claimed sources had told them his campaign had ‘effectively begun’ after Volodymyr Zelensky told Donald Trump that elections may be coming soon.
Zaluzhnyi, known affectionately as the Iron General, would be a front-runner to defeat Mr Zelensky as he is remembered fondly for marshalling the heroic defence of Kyiv in 2022.
He was then replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief and sidelined as Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK in July last year.
Freelance journalist Katie Livingstone said sources had told her the Ukrainian opposition MP Viktoria Siumar would run any campaign with former BBC Ukraine reporter Oksana Torop handling his press.
Kyiv Post Correspondent Jason Jay Smart said he had confirmed the claims, adding: ‘Sources indicate that he gave the go-ahead to his team, over a month ago, to start planning his campaign.’
Ukraine ‘s ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhny denied rumours he ‘is quietly preparing a run for President’ from his London HQ
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shake hand with Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador of Ukraine, presents his credentials to Britain’s King Charles III during a private audience at Buckingham Palace, London, February 2025
But Ms Torop last night denied the rumours. She told the New Voice of Ukraine: ‘There is no talk of any campaign headquarters.
‘Valerii Zaluzhnyi has stated his position more than once, and as far as I know, it has not changed: while the war continues, we need to work to preserve the country, not think about elections.’
Zaluzhnyi is Ukraine’s most trusted public figure with recent polling finding 73 per cent of Ukrainians trust him compared with 67 per cent for Zelensky.
The Ukrainian Embassy was contacted for comment.
