Usyk wants to become president of Ukraine: boxer announces political ambitions
3 March 10:32
Ukrainian world boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has stated that he plans to enter politics after his sporting career ends. However, the athlete emphasized that he is not considering any positions other than the presidency.
The boxer said this in an interview with Ukrainian TV presenter Andriy Bednyakov, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Usyk: “I’m not going to settle for anything less than president.”
When discussing his plans for the future, Usyk noted that he intends to continue boxing professionally for several more years.
“I plan to box for a couple more years. I plan to box for a couple of years, and then I have plans to work for the state,” he said.
Usyk responded clearly to the host’s joking suggestion about a possible position as mayor of Konotop:
“Look, I’m not going anywhere lower than president.”
Thus, the athlete effectively confirmed his intention to run for the highest government position.
Political context: elections during wartime
It should be noted that the next presidential elections in Ukraine were scheduled to take place in the spring of 2024, but due to the full-scale war, they were postponed.
According to current legislation, elections are not held during martial law.
At the same time, the topic of elections has become relevant again in the context of possible peace talks in 2026. According to international media reports, scenarios for holding elections in the event of a ceasefire were discussed.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that elections are only possible after the active phase of hostilities has ended. He also stressed that holding elections during wartime is difficult from both a security and legal point of view.
Is Usyk’s entry into politics realistic?
Oleksandr Usyk is one of the most famous Ukrainian athletes in the world and has significant public support. At the same time, experts note that participation in the presidential election requires not only popularity, but also a clear political program and team.
At this point, it is only a statement by the athlete about his future plans.
