Zaluzhny to Resign as UK Ambassador in January – Ukrainian Media Reports

Valery Zaluzhny, former commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and current ambassador to the United Kingdom, is reported to be considering resigning from his post, according to Ukrainian media outlets.

Sources close to the Office of the President, as cited by Radio NV, say that Zaluzhny had informed President Volodymyr Zelensky of his intention to resign several weeks ago during a visit to Kyiv.

The sources cited also said that possible future roles for Gen. Zaluzhny were discussed with the president, including prime minister and head of the Office of the President.

Zaluzhny, however, reportedly showed no interest in either position at that time.

Zaluzhny’s media advisor Oksana Torop in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, reacted to the publication in the media.

“As always, unnamed sources know everything about Zaluzhny and his plans. But nothing has changed. He continues to defend the interests of Ukraine as ambassador to the United Kingdom,” she said.

In February 2024, much to the chagrin of the AFU’s rank and file, Zelensky dismissed Zaluzhny as the AFU’s top commander and replaced him with Oleksandr Syrsky.

For at least the past six months, Zaluzhny has been the subject of rumors that he is planning to launch a campaign for the presidency as soon as conditions allow for elections in Ukraine – i.e. a ceasefire.

The Guardian newspaper reported that US Vice President Vance had contacted Zaluzhny shortly after the infamous “Oval Office debacle” in February, when Vance laced into President Zelensky for his perceived ingratitude. The “outreach” was interpreted by many as an attempt to undermine Zelensky. Zaluzhny refused to take any calls from Vance, presumably to not fuel rumors that the former general might oppose Zelensky in the future.

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The Guardian cited a source claiming that in a meeting in November 2024, Zelensky’s then-Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak had suggested to Zaluzhny that he should formally join the president’s political team, to present a united front before future elections.

Zaluzhny is said to have declined, but nevertheless pledged loyalty, up to a point. According to the Guardian, “He promised Yermak he would not criticize Zelensky in public while the war continued, said the source, and also gave assurances he would not give the presidential office any nasty surprises. ‘If I do decide I want to go into politics, you will hear it from me first, privately,’ Zaluzhny had told Yermak.”

Who would win?

In a survey conducted by SOCIS, a private political and sociology company, published on Dec. 24, Zelensky and Zaluzhny would advance to a second run-off round if presidential elections were held in the near future

The poll comes as the idea of a referendum and possible elections have become talking points in the current negotiations mediated by US President Donald Trump.

According to the survey, Zelensky would get 22% of the vote in the first round, slightly more than Zaluzhny’s 21%. About 24% of the respondents said they were undecided, an increase from 21% recorded in October.

In a hypothetical runoff between the two, Zaluzhny would secure a decisive victory, winning 64% of the vote compared to Zelensky’s 36%, according to the poll.