Even as Russian forces surround the capital city of Ukraine, the country's unlikely wartime president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has made it clear that he has no plans to leave.
Two weeks have passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine, an attack that has already resulted in thousands of estimated casualties on both sides, millions of refugees, and a flurry of international sanctions.
Zelensky declined offers from the US to be evacuated from Kyiv, even after alerting allies to the incursion of enemy sabotage groups in the city who see the president and his family as Russia's number one priority.
Zelensky said during a passionate video address late last month that he stays in the capital.
In a matter of days, Zelensky, a former comedian and actor turned diplomat, has been praised for his steadfast presence and defiant demeanor in the face of increasing danger. The leader gained respect with his own people, as well as international observers, for bucking the US's reported offer to evacuate him from the city.
Zelensky posted videos of himself at the presidential office in Kyiv on Monday, his first public appearance there since the invasion began. The INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals INRDeals
Several military analysts told The Guardian this week that the Kremlin could be ready to stage a succesfull assault on Kyiv in the coming days, despite a series of early-stage Russian failures.
The country and its western allies have been forced to consider an uncomfortable question: What happens to the government, its war efforts, and the people?
The speaker of the Verkhovna Rada is the next in line to succeed the president. The role of that person is currently filled by a former Zelensky aide named Ruslan.
As the leaders signed the application for membership in the European Union, they stood by Zelensky, who had advocated for more international assistance.
The best support to the people of Ukraine in its darkest hours will be the real recognition of our European aspiration, according to a video meeting last week. Give us the membership of the European Union.
According to The New York Times, US and European officials told the paper that Ukrainian successors are expected to continue opposing Russia.
According to The Times, Western officials have urged Ukrainian officials to relocate the man from Kyiv to a safer location as a precautionary measure. A source briefed on the conversations told the outlet that US officials are discouraging senior Ukrainian leaders in the line of succession from remaining in the same place for too long.
The anonymous sources told the newspaper that Ukrainian officials understand the importance of a clearly-defined, legal succession plan despite some resistance.
The constitution of the country is not clear as to who will come next. The positions of first deputy and deputy chairperson are not listed in the document as being in line for the presidency.
According to The Times, Ukrainian legal scholars believed that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal would take over when Zelensky and Stefanchuk fell ill.
In an opinion essay for The Hill last month, Khrystyna Holynska, a Ukrainian researcher at the nonprofit the RAND Corporation, and William Courtney, a senior fellow at the nonprofit, suggested that the country's parliament would be wise to take steps to quickly validate a longer.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Ukrainian officials had made plans to keep the government in place if Zelensky were to be killed.
The Ukrainians have plans in place, but I am not going to talk about them or give any details on how thecontinuity of government would work.
One day after The New York Times reported that western allies have discussed how to ensure a continuing Ukrainian government, Blinken made his comments.
The Times reported last week that Zelensky had survived at least three assassination attempts in a matter of days. The outlet says that anti-war agents within Russia's Federal Security Service prevented the creation of two separate outfits.
The death of Zelensky would be a blow to the war efforts. His constant, resolute speeches and public online presence have been essential factors in the ongoing defiant response to Russia.
The dissolution of the current Ukrainian government with no clear succession in place would be disastrous. While the US and European allies are unlikely to ever acknowledge a Russian puppet government in the country, a leaderless Ukraine would make ongoing international assistance much more challenging.
Western officials told The New York Times that a legally-validated Ukrainian leader would help fend off any Moscow-backed leaders gaining legitimacy.
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