Politics
Putin, Zelenskyy and Infantino remained in office through 2026
The leaders of Russia, Ukraine and FIFA all stayed in power at year-end.
On Friday 1 January 2027 the status of three senior leaders was recorded. Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Gianni Infantino each remained in office through 31 December 2026. Their continuities were noted together in the same report.
The Russian presidency showed no change, with Putin still listed as president at year-end. The record confirmed his incumbency for the remainder of the term. No successor was named.
The Ukrainian presidency also showed continuity, with Zelenskyy still in office at the close of 2026. The entry recorded his ongoing tenure. No replacement was indicated.
The FIFA presidency likewise remained unchanged, with Infantino holding the post through the final day of 2026. The listing affirmed his ongoing leadership of the organisation. No alternative candidate appeared.
Analysis
The continuation of Putin in Russia preserves the existing political trajectory, meaning that domestic policies and foreign-policy approaches are likely to follow the same course established over the past decade. Any institutional reforms or leadership transitions that might have been anticipated after 2026 will now be deferred, keeping the current power structure intact.
Zelenskyy's retention of Ukraine's presidency provides a measure of leadership stability amid an ongoing conflict, which could help maintain the coherence of diplomatic outreach and internal governance. However, the absence of a leadership change also means that any shifts in strategy or negotiation stance will have to emerge from within the existing administration.
Infantino's ongoing tenure at FIFA ensures that the organization's current reform agenda and governance debates will proceed under the same stewardship. Stakeholders seeking major structural changes will need to work within the framework set by the incumbent, while supporters of continuity can expect the present policies to persist through the end of 2026.
Background consulted for the analysis
What this was built from
Each claim above traces to a market below, at the price it was trading when this edition went to press.