Oleksiy Arestovych, a former advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has openly criticized the incumbent and announced his intention to run against him in the next election.
He has also called for Ukraine to enter into negotiations with Moscow.
After conflicts with Zelensky's circle, Arestovych resigned from his position in January 2023, as reported by Stern.
Having lived in Europe and the USA for some time, he accuses the country's leadership of political persecution.
He has called for negotiations with Russia, stating that continuing the fight is "senseless" and only results in "dozens and hundreds of new deaths every day."
Arestovych suggested the following to Stern:
"We freeze the conflict, achieving a situation similar to the Cold War between the Federal Republic and the GDR. We do not give up the territories occupied by Russia, but we commit ourselves not to reclaim them militarily. That is, we make a temporary deal. If NATO then accepts us, its protection will only extend to the territory that is de facto controlled by Ukraine. The return of the occupied territories will be pursued politically."
