Trump thinks Ukraine needs a new president. Who could replace Zelenskyy?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to choose a new president has renewed attention on who might challenge Volodymyr Zelenskyy if wartime elections were to happen. The article says Zelenskyy remains in office under Ukraine’s constitution and martial law, while many Ukrainians remain cautious about holding a vote before the war ends. Zelenskyy responded by saying an election could be held if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.

Among the possible contenders, the piece identifies former armed forces chief and current ambassador to Britain Valerii Zaluzhnyi as the strongest challenger. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera describe him as Zelenskyy’s most dangerous rival, helped by his popularity after Ukraine’s early war defenses and later counteroffensives. The article also says intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and digital-transformation reformer Mykhailo Fedorov could attract support, though each has different strengths and political limits.

Al Jazeera says Zelenskyy still has meaningful public backing, but his standing has fluctuated during the war and amid tensions with Trump. The article also mentions other names, including former president Petro Poroshenko, but says they are less likely to succeed. The broader significance is that, even without an imminent election, debate over leadership succession is now tied to Ukraine’s war strategy, domestic reform record and relations with the United States.