Zelensky Office Declines to Publish Press Conference Petition

The Office of the Ukrainian President has refused to publish a petition calling on Volodymyr Zelensky to hold a separate press conference with independent and critical media outlets, according to Ukrayinska Pravda.

Petition initiator and journalist Danylo Mokryk said the petition was prompted by protests in Ukraine that have lasted more than a month, during which, he said, there have been calls for more open dialogue between the president and the public. The proposed press conference was intended to provide a platform for media outlets such as Ukrayinska Pravda, Bihus.Info, Radio Liberty, The Kyiv Independent, Suspilne and BBC Ukraine.

According to Mokryk, journalists could have asked Zelensky challenging questions on domestic policy and issues resonating with the protesters. However, the Office of the President said the online petition did not meet the required standards and would not be published.

The office did not specify the shortcomings in the accompanying text. Zelensky's last major press conference took place in February 2025.

Since then, he has answered journalists' questions primarily during foreign trips, visits by delegations or at select meetings with the media.

(mja)