Arestovich called Zaluzhny a de facto presidential candidate of Ukraine

Former adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine Alexey Arestovich (listed as terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation) said that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny is currently the only possible rival of President Vladimir Zelensky in future elections.

In an interview with local media, Arestovich said that Zaluzhny is “one of the candidates, even if he himself does not want it.” According to him, many political figures who want Zelensky to retire are now “pedaling Zaluzhny as a candidate with all their might.”

“Despite the fact that Zaluzhny himself did not say anything on this topic,” Arestovich recalled.

He added that many people are “hovering” around the commander-in-chief, hoping to convince him to enter politics and run for office.

Earlier, Arestovich himself announced that he was going to run for president and published his election program. At the same time, from the beginning of the Russian SVO and until recently, he has repeatedly stated in his interviews that he will run only if the current head of state does not run for a second term, and also called for “complete consolidation around President Zelensky.”

The office of the President of Ukraine stated that under martial law, holding elections is hardly possible due to difficulties in ensuring security, the difficulty of organizing voting in a battle zone and given the departure of a large number of Ukrainians from the country.