From battlefield to diplomacy: Will Zaluzhnyi challenge Zelenskyy?

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, finds himself at the centre of political speculation, months after his dismissal from military leadership by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

His move to London has placed him in a delicate position, balancing loyalty to the Ukrainian government with growing domestic and international pressure to enter politics, Caliber.Az reports citing The Guardian.

The Guardian has learned that in early March, JD Vance’s team, allied with US President Donald Trump, attempted to arrange a call with Zaluzhnyi.

The overture came shortly after a fraught Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, which Vance reportedly helped orchestrate.

According to sources, Zaluzhnyi, after consulting with Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, declined the call, highlighting his cautious stance toward political manoeuvres from abroad.

Zaluzhnyi’s trajectory from army chief to ambassador has been closely watched. Appointed commander-in-chief in July 2021, he gained a reputation for unconventional leadership and personable engagement with troops.

Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, he emerged as a national war hero, praised for his strategic foresight and leadership under pressure. Secret polling has shown that he commands significant domestic support, making him the only figure likely to challenge Zelenskyy in a future election.

Despite frequent visits from political figures, diplomats, and even controversial former advisers such as Paul Manafort, Zaluzhnyi has maintained a measured public and private presence.

He has repeatedly declined overtures to join Zelenskyy’s political team, though he has pledged loyalty and promised not to undermine the president while the war continues. “If I do decide I want to go into politics, you will hear it from me first, privately,” he told Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, in November.

Zaluzhnyi has also kept close ties with military commanders and continues to monitor the war from London through secure channels. Publicly, he has engaged in a more conventional ambassadorial role, including meetings with senior UK officials and appearances with the royal family, while keeping a low profile in social and media events.

Social media posts of his personal life, including theatre visits and selfies with his wife, have drawn both light-hearted and critical attention at home.

Political analysts suggest Zaluzhnyi is deliberately delaying any formal political decision. “He will make the final decision only at the last moment, just before elections,” said Kyiv-based analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. The general reportedly admires Israel’s model of a small, security-focused state and envisions presenting himself as a wartime leader, promising rigorous policies in defence of Ukraine.

Recent visits to Kyiv for ambassadorial summits, including trips to frontline regions, have reinforced his careful balancing act. While some in the political opposition hope Zaluzhnyi will act as an alternative to Zelenskyy, his team insists that his current focus remains entirely on the war effort and national defence.

Presidential aides echo this, describing him as part of the team and cautioning that political scenarios are currently unpredictable.

As Ukraine faces ongoing security challenges, Zaluzhnyi’s next steps remain closely watched. Whether he ultimately enters the political arena will be a defining question for the country’s postwar leadership, but for now, he continues to navigate a complex path between diplomacy, loyalty, and political possibility.

By Aghakazim Guliyev