Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is likely to agree to territorial compromises with Russia.
He voiced out this belief during an interview with the Italian daily newspaper Corriere Della Serra on July 21. The former boxing champion-turned-mayor told the paper's Lorenzo Cremonesi: "How [do we] explain to the country that it is necessary to give up pieces of our territory that cost the lives of thousands of our fighting heroes?"
"Will he … consider a territorial compromise with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin? Zelensky will probably have to resort to a referendum. I don't think he can reach such painful and important agreements on his own without popular legitimacy."
Klitschko also acknowledged that "the next few months will be very difficult" for the Ukrainian leader, noting that he "risks political suicide" with whatever move he makes. Nevertheless, the mayor of Ukraine's capital city said Zelensky is "not willing to give up the centralized power in his hands that guarantees him martial law from the first day" of the Russian invasion.
The World Boxing Council heavyweight champion emeritus also brushed off any suggestion of elections in the country, arguing that "the domestic political battle can only begin when the war with Russia is over." Instead, he suggested the establishment of "a coalition of national unity that helps govern in a collegial way and share important choices."
According to political analyst Andrew Korybko, Klitschko's suggestion mirrored that of Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky to establish a "government of national unity."
Cremonesi also asked the mayor if he fears the prospect of former U.S. President Donald Trump winning the November presidential elections and securing a second term, to which Klitschko answered in the negative. "We'll have to work with him if he gets elected," the former boxer said.
Klitschko remains critical of Zelensky
Cremonesi also touched on the Kyiv mayor's opposition to the comedian-turned-president, to which Klitschko didn't shy away from answering. "I've always had good relationships with him. He's the one who has [been] bad to me," the mayor replied.
The journalist for Corriere Della Serra also posted two questions to Klitschko. First, he asked about Zelensky's decision to remove Valery Zaluzhny as chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in February. Second, he also asked about Klitschko's disagreement with the president's martial law declaration.
"Martial law has served [to facilitate] national mobilization and to ensure the unity of the country. But now, it is necessary to avoid that all important choices be relegated only to the [executive branch]. Zaluzhny was very popular, and his removal created anger and discontent. Zelensky was not able to motivate his choice and that's not good. He doesn't cement unity," said Klitschko.
The mayor added that "Zelensky has focused too much power in his office" and the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine's unicameral parliament – has lost all important roles." Klitschko also recounted telling the German press about smelling authoritarianism in his own country. (Related: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko accuses Zelensky of AUTHORITARIANISM and LYING to Ukrainians.)
"We must never forget that [Ukraine] is a democratic republic linked to the tradition of European governments. We are fighting to defend ourselves from the Russian dictatorship. We want to remain completely different from the Putin regime."
Korybko ultimately concluded: "Zelensky knows that he won't reconquer his country's lost territory no matter what he says for the purpose of keeping morale high, hence the need to informally explore a compromise for ending the conflict in the most politically 'face-saving' way possible, thus explaining Klitschko’s referendum speculation."
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