President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. Archival photoMOSCOW, 24 Aug. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to resign in February to end Russia's special operation, writes the Washington Post.
«I'm not trying to hold on to power. If it's just a matter of me leaving and that will stop the bloodshed, then I'm all for it. I'm leaving right now. That's not what I got into politics for, and I'll leave, when you say if it will stop the war,» Zelensky's newspaper quoted him as saying. 
Shoigu named the US goal in UkraineThe article notes that Zelensky also received appeals from US and European officials about the need to preserve the continuity of power. In some cases, he was offered help to leave the capital. Officials believed that by ensuring his own safety, he could prevent a power vacuum.
Furthermore, Zelensky suspected that some of his foreign interlocutors simply wanted the conflict to end as quickly as possible, and his administration to effectively surrender to Russia.
«Of all who called me, there was no one who believed that we would hold out,» Zelensky told reporters.
Russia has been conducting a military special operation in Ukraine since February 24. According to President Vladimir Putin, the ultimate goal is the liberation of Donbass and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself. Allied forces have already completely liberated the Luhansk People's Republic and a significant part of Donetsk, including Volnovakha, Mariupol and Svyatogorsk. West