# Ukraine presidential candidacy speculation – July‑Aug poll s

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ukraine-presidential-candidacy-speculation
> Updated: 2026-08-06T18:21:23.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 3.

In early July former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Zelensky raised the prospect of an autumn presidential election and asked Zaluzhnyi directly whether he would run. Zaluzhnyi answered affirmatively, saying he had never sought a political career but felt a duty to the public. Polls cited by Ukrainska Pravda placed his public‑trust rating at 73 %, making him the leading potential rival.

A Rating Group poll conducted on 20‑21 July showed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov surge to a 65 % trust rating, overtaking Zelensky, who fell to fourth with 59 %. Zaluzhnyi remained at the top (70 %) and intelligence chief Kirill Budanov was third (62 %). The poll’s hypothetical‑election question recorded 22.3 % support for Zelensky, 14.9 % for Zaluzhnyi and 13.4 % for Fedorov.

A later Sozis survey (28 July‑2 August) found Zelensky slipping to sixth place, with only 18 % full trust. Zaluzhnyi retained the highest confidence (27.8 % full, 37.1 % partial), Fedorov was second, and drone‑forces commander Robert Browdy placed third. The data underline a rapid erosion of confidence in the incumbent and growing public backing for senior military and security figures ahead of any autumn election.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: Ukraine poll shows President Zelensky ranks sixth in public trust

A July‑August poll of 2,000 Ukrainians ranks former army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi most trusted, while President Zelenskyy falls to sixth with only 18 % full trust and 37 % no trust.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukraine-poll-shows-president-zelensky-ranks-sixth-in-public-trust

### 2026-07-23: Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov tops Ukrainian trust poll, overtaking President Zelensky

A July poll shows former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov leading Ukraine's trust rankings at 65 %, overtaking President Zelensky (59 %) amid protests over his dismissal.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mihailo-fedorov-tops-zelensky-in-poll-and-eyes-ukraine-presidential-run

### 2026-07-01: Former Ukrainian commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi says he will run for president

Former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, told President Zelensky he will run in a possible autumn presidential election, despite attempts to persuade him otherwise.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-ukrainian-army-chief-zaluzhnyi-says-he-will-run-zelensky-confirms

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Cite as: Ukraine presidential candidacy speculation – July‑Aug poll s. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ukraine-presidential-candidacy-speculation