Andriy Yermak's speech at the round table at Chatham House in London on December 6 attracted attention not only because of the topic discussed by the participants, but also because of one interesting detail - Yermak was sitting at the table next to Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the current ambassador of Ukraine to the Great Britain. This could not but cause additional attention, given the rumors that are increasingly persistently spreading around the possibility of holding presidential elections in Ukraine in the near future. The situation in the country, in particular the possible end of the war, has long been the subject of political speculation. The two main scenarios of the development of events, which are currently being considered by Bankova, foresee either the end of the war after Trump's inauguration, or the continuation of the conflict "in debt". However, despite thinking about a possible peaceful settlement, the Ukrainian authorities seem more inclined to continue the struggle — and, at the same time, to prepare for the upcoming elections. It is interesting that Valery Zaluzhny currently has the highest rating among potential candidates for the post of president. According to the latest polls, he is winning both the first and second rounds of the elections, which puts him in direct competition with the incumbent President Volodymyr Zelensky. It's no secret that certain political circles, including Zelenskyi's opponents, are already betting on Zaluzhnyi. One of them is Petro Poroshenko, as well as other influential figures. On the other hand, the Office of the President is actively working to prevent Zaluzhny from becoming a real competitor. In particular, Bankova is trying to convince him not to nominate his candidacy in the elections, or, as a last resort, to go to them only under the brand of Zelenskyi's party. Zaluzhny, in turn, maintains high popularity among Ukrainians, and his appearance next to Yermak at the event in London looks symbolic against the background of these political maneuvers. This photo may indicate that the issue of political neutralization of Zaluzhnyi has not yet been resolved and remains on the agenda. Regardless of whether Zaluzhny will run for the presidency, his role in the political process of Ukraine is growing, and it is already difficult to say what the consequences of these internal political battles will be. But one thing is certain: the race for the presidency is likely to become even more intense in the coming months.