Recently, Ihor Kolomoisky, an oligarch and former business partner of Volodymyr Zelensky, commented in court on whether he regrets supporting Zelensky in the presidential elections. Kolomoisky stated that he does not regret his choice, arguing that otherwise, Petro Poroshenko would have remained in power.
Political Consequences of Zelensky's Absence
Kolomoisky, currently under arrest, initially tried to evade a direct answer but eventually confirmed that he does not regret his support. However, his reasoning is questionable, as polling data indicated that had Zelensky not run, the likelihood of Poroshenko's victory would have been extremely low. Instead, Yulia Tymoshenko would likely have become the new president, as she had considerable voter support at that time.
Changing Political Landscape
If Tymoshenko had become president, the political landscape in Ukraine would have looked very different. The Opposition Platform - For Life (OPOZJ) could have garnered a significant portion of votes, and Tymoshenko, with the support of this party, could have formed a coalition that would fundamentally alter the country's course. It is noteworthy that while Tymoshenko would not have been overtly pro-Russian, she might have adopted a softer approach in relations with Russia, potentially leading to a 'frozen' conflict in Donbas.
Possible Scenarios of Events
After Zelensky's victory, his entourage attempted to implement a 'Georgian scenario' to improve relations with Russia, but these efforts failed due to personal animosity between Zelensky and Putin. In the event of Tymoshenko's victory, it is likely that the conflict in Donbas could have been resolved differently, with a possibility of restoring relations with Moscow.