Is it time for Zelenskyy to go?

An exhausted leader of an exhausted nation, and the choices we must make under extreme pressure.

IT’S A STRANGE QUESTION, ISN’T IT? HOW COULD WE even ask this in the middle of an ongoing war? But it’s worth considering: Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected president of Ukraine in 2019, and his five-year term officially ended on May 20. By standard democratic processes, he should step down when his term concludes. So, is it time to renew the leadership? Should we be thinking about a change?

Zelenskyy is certainly not a unanimous choice among Ukrainians, just as no politician in the world is. This is true even in a country under brutal invasion. While the majority supports him, not every citizen backs his leadership. People are exhausted — both physically and emotionally — but they understand the sacrifices needed to win the war.

However, the pursuit of democracy is the very essence of this war. We are fighting for the right to choose our own future, including voting for leaders who best represent our aspirations. Is it not a contradiction to argue that Zelenskyy should remain in power beyond his elected term, even in the name of national security?

Yet, the reality is clear: Ukraine is in a state of emergency. This is a country invaded by a foreign power with nuclear weapons, which has officially and publicly denied our right to exist as a state. Exceptional circumstances like this call for exceptional measures.

The conclusion is that no, he must remain.

And his legitimacy comes not only from the assumption that we are fighting for survival, not just stability: contrary to what Russian and Russian-backed media keeps claiming, he is legally obliged to do so, as the constitution prohibits elections from being held under martial law.

History gives us plenty of examples. The United States during World War II extended leadership beyond typical terms for Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill also ascended to power in the UK through exceptional processes in 1940. These decisions were made to protect their nations during times of existential crisis, and history has proven that these measures were the most adequate.

Zelenskyy is in a similar position today. His presence provides a stability that Ukraine desperately needs. If he were to leave office or, worse, perish in this struggle, the vacuum left behind could potentially shake our resistance. Russia is aware of this and would be all too happy to exploit the chaos.

Our president is the face of Ukrainian defiance, and Putin understands that. Keeping Zelenskyy as our president is not just a matter of political continuity, but of ensuring our spirit of resistance remains intact.

For these reasons, it’s essential that Zelenskyy remains at the helm until the final victory — not just for Ukraine, but for the entire free world.

We are fighting for democracy, and while that may seem contradictory when discussing extending a leader’s term, in a circumstance of war, survival must take precedence.

After victory, there will be plenty of time to return to regular elections. Until then, we will stand united behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy, our leader, our inspiration, our hope, our commander-in-chief.

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