In three months, Zelensky will become an illegitimate president

Military analyst Gennadiy Druzenko discussed President Zelensky’s recent press conference, expressing concerns about the erosion of Zelensky’s legitimacy despite his declining popularity.

According to Druzenko, under the Constitution, Zelensky’s term concludes on March 31, 2024, but he has shown resistance to the idea of holding elections, a key process to confirm his legitimacy. Druzenko emphasized that as the president’s popularity wanes, it significantly impacts his political standing, likening the situation to a weakening political authority, which could embolden adversaries.

Druzenko also raised the potential exploitation of Zelensky’s legitimacy issues by Ukraine’s opponents, pointing to Russia’s upcoming elections in March 2024. He drew parallels between Putin’s expected reelection during the ongoing conflict and Zelensky’s stance on avoiding elections amid the tensions with Russia. While acknowledging the deceptive nature of the comparison, Druzenko highlighted that adversaries might leverage this argument to undermine Ukraine’s position, exploiting the perceived legitimacy crisis.