"Something incredible has happened": a petition for an open press conference has appeared on the President's website

On the website of the President of Ukraine 27 August 2026 a petition was published calling for an open press conference of Volodymyr Zelensky with the participation of independent journalists and members of society. The author of appeal No.22/269406-ep is indicated as Anna Repina.

“The incredible happened. After at least five blocked electronic petitions, another one of them was finally published,” — reacted journalist Danylo Mokryk.

The petition states that after the end of the protests the public demand for answers from the authorities has not disappeared. One way of open dialogue the author proposes is a separate press conference with the participation of independent and critically minded journalists. Media representatives should be given the opportunity to ask the president questions regarding:

• internal policy;
• decisions of the authorities;
• current social issues;
• demands that were voiced during the protests.

At the same time, it is proposed that the content of the questions be not pre-approved.

“We are asking not for a simulated dialogue, but for a real opportunity to be heard,” — the appeal says.

It is proposed to invite representatives of the following media to the press conference:

• Ukrayinska Pravda;
• Bihus.Info;
• Slidstvo.Info;
• Radio Svoboda;
• Hromadske;
• The Kyiv Independent;
• Suspilne;
• NV;
• Dzerkalo Tyzhnia;
• BBC Ukraine;
• Liga.net and other outlets.

According to Danylo Mokryk, at least five petitions with a similar demand were previously blocked on the president’s website. The journalist suggested that the reasons why previous appeals were not published may have changed.

“Either the requirements suddenly changed, or someone in the President’s Office accidentally pressed “publish” instead of “forbid”,” — Mokryk said ironically.

As early as 20 August the journalist reported that the petition he submitted was refused publication. In the service administration’s response it was stated that the appeal “does not meet the established requirements”, but no specific reasons were given. After that Mokryk sent a request to the President’s Office. He asked to be informed who made the decision to refuse, which exact requirements the petition failed to meet, and to provide a copy of the decision and the regulatory act.

During fact-checking of the material the new petition had gathered 1,436 of the required 25,000 votes. It can be signed until 27 November 2026.

The last large press conference of Volodymyr Zelensky took place in February 2025. About 150 media outlets participated in the event.

Previously we wrote:

• “If it’s needed for peace — I’ll go”: Zelensky made a loud statement
• Zelensky called elections during wartime a “tsunami for the state”
• Mykhailo Fedorov urged developing a mechanism to hold elections in Ukraine during wartime
• “Until July 24 we are waiting for decisions”: veteran Koziatynskyi urged Ukrainians to take to the squares
• “It could cost a position and rank”: a servicemember said about persecution for supporting the protests