For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that he is considering a possible dismissal of the country’s top military officer, the popular Chief of Staff Valery Zaluzhny.
The rumor had been circulating for several days. This Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky came to corroborate it himself during an interview given to the Italian television RAI broadcast Sunday evening. When the question of the possible ousting of his chief of staff Valery Zaluzhny was asked, the president said he was thinking about “a reset”, saying that“a new start is necessary“and that the question is not about “only one person but on the direction of the country’s leaders“.
“I’m thinking about this replacement (…)When we talk about this, I mean the replacement of a series of state leaders, (this does not concern) not just a single sector, like the military. If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory, we cannot get discouraged, drop our weapons, we must have the right positive energy.”
Statements that confirm for the very first time that Volodymyr Zelensky plans to fire the very popular general. A possibility that is causing an outcry in Ukraine and delighting the Kremlin as the second anniversary of the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches.
According to Ukrainian and Western media, Volodymyr Zelensky last week offered Valery Zaluzhny to resign, but the general refused. Valery Zaluzhny is currently refusing to make any comments.
Tensions between the presidency and the general staff
Clouds are gathering over the relationship between the president and Valery Zaluzhny, while the country faces serious shortages of ammunition and personnel following the failure of the counter-offensive last summer. Among the reasons for dissension: the army’s request to expand the mobilization at the end of last year to an additional 500,000 people.
A disagreement between Valery Zaluzhny and Volodymyr Zelenskyy first erupted last fall when the general admitted in an interview to The Economist that the fighting with Russia was at an impasse. In the process, the president categorically denied that this was the case.
Ukraine desperately needs more Western military aid as Russian forces press from many directions across the 1,500-kilometre front line, but an aid package has been blocked in the US Congress. The dismissal of Valery Zaluzhny could fuel uncertainty among Western allies.
Russia welcomed the prospect, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying discussions over Valery Zaluzhny’s dismissal revealed divisions within Ukraine’s leadership.
