Doctor of Historical Sciences and head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine Oleksii Koshel shared his opinions on Espreso TV.“Today it is already clear that if Valerii Zaluzhnyi decides to run, he will become the main candidate for the presidency of Ukraine, and possibly even the uncontested one. It is entirely understandable that, as a military figure during wartime, he cannot comment on the upcoming election campaign. However, it is not that simple. Even during war, political games have not stopped. We should recall events of the past few years, in particular how representatives of local government were targeted through repressive mechanisms. The so-called ‘mayors’ case’ had a clear political undertone. Therefore, for now, I believe Zaluzhnyi is protected by his presence in the United Kingdom and the possible lack of criticism. However, once he clearly announces his participation in the elections, it will be necessary to prepare for a wave of intense attacks against him and a wave of criminal cases,” Koshel explained.The political analyst noted that any publications or discussions about elections now harm Ukraine, since during wartime the government and opposition must remain united to reduce risks to the state.“I believe the next presidential elections in Ukraine will certainly not be smooth. This is a problem, because the more publications about elections in Ukraine appear in the West, the more it harms us. The West wants to see unity in Ukraine’s leadership. Even when we talk about ongoing negotiations or red lines for Ukraine, it is important that these are not Zelenskyy’s personal red lines, but shared ones. Such unity is necessary, and it will reduce risks for the state,” he added.On August 25, The Guardian, citing sources, reported that Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, offered former Chief of the Armed Forces and current Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a position in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s political team. He declined.