Bangladesh, Sept. 25 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated he is prepared to leave office once hostilities with Russia come to a halt. Speaking in an interview with Axios on September 25, Zelensky stated that he would call an election in the event of a temporary truce with Moscow, and added that he has no intention of running again. His remarks come at a time when concerns about his legitimacy and accusations of authoritarian drift are gaining traction both inside Ukraine and internationally.

The statement represents a dramatic shift in tone for Zelensky, who has faced mounting criticism for continuing to govern even though his official presidential term expired in May 2024. While martial law has allowed him to postpone...