MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. Former Ukrainian commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the United Kingdom Valery Zaluzhny told Vladimir Zelensky during a meeting that he intends to enter the race in the presidential election, Ukrainskaya Pravda reported, citing sources close to both participants.
Zaluzhny traveled to Kiev from London in June for a meeting with Zelensky focused on the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine, according to the report. Zelensky reportedly said that a window of opportunity had emerged to organize the vote, but added that it should be conducted in a way that would not deepen divisions in society. He then asked Zaluzhny whether he would run for president if the election were held this fall. "Yes, I will," Zaluzhny replied.
Ukrainskaya Pravda reported that Zelensky was prepared to offer Zaluzhny positions in the government if he agreed not to run, but the former commander-in-chief said he could not do so because many Ukrainians had placed their hopes in him. Head of the ruling Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia and Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov also tried to persuade Zaluzhny after the meeting with Zelensky to withdraw from the race, but he did not change his decision.
