Observer: If Ukrainian President Steps Down, Russian Offensive Will Most Likely Stop

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this leaflet image released January 29, 2022. (BETWEEN PHOTOS/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/WSJ/sad.)

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia professor of international law Hikmahanto Juwana said the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could stop Russia's attacks.

“Russia's attacks on Ukraine will stop when Russia succeeds in removing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia's initial objective in attacking Ukraine was to implement a defense pact with the two republics that separated from Ukraine after the two republics were recognized by Russia on February 22," said Hikmahanto Juwana in a statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Saturday.

But now, he continued, Russia had attacked the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with the main aim of President Zalenskiy turning himself in or being arrested.

He said this mode was similar to that used by the United States in its efforts to oust Saddam Hussein as President of Iraq.

The president is the real embodiment of a country. The president also becomes the highest policy-making official in a country, said Hikmahanto.

For Russia, he continued, President Zelenskiy is considered to be very unbiased with Russia and in fact very siding with Western European countries and the US.

The Russian offensive could also be stopped by President Vladimir Putin through negotiations currently being pursued. It is likely that Russia's demands in the negotiations are for President Zelenskiy to resign and be replaced with a figure that Russia can accept, he said.

However, Hikmahanto said, the war could continue and escalate greatly if NATO took the decision to involve itself and assist Ukraine in striking back against Russia.

If this happens, World War III can certainly be at the door, considering that Putin in his statement did not hesitate to use nuclear weapons at his disposal, he said.

This situation, he continued, is a big possibility for NATO not to help President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in dealing with a Russian attack.