Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is considering a major shake-up in the country’s senior officials, asserting that a “reset is necessary.” In an interview with Italian TV, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine’s senior military commander, Valery Zaluzhnyi, and other state leaders may be replaced as part of this reset.
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During the broadcast, Zelensky expressed his desire to bring in new leadership across various sectors, including the military. He emphasized the need for the right individuals to lead Ukraine, stating, “It is a question of the people who are to lead Ukraine. A reset is necessary, I am talking about a replacement of a number of state leaders, not only in the army sector. I am reflecting on this replacement. It is a question for the entire leadership of the country.”
Zelensky’s plans have sparked speculations as to who will remain in his cabinet, considering recent criticism regarding the situation in the Ukraine war. The strained relationship between Zaluzhnyi and the president escalated after a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive last year. Zaluzhnyi’s description of the war with Russia as a “stalemate” in an interview with The Economist further intensified tensions.
Speaking to Italian state RAI television, Zelensky elaborated on his intentions, stating, “I have in mind something serious that does not concern a single person but the direction of the country’s leadership. If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction. We cannot be discouraged; we must have the right and positive energy. Negativity must be left at home. We can’t adopt a giving-up attitude.”
Last week, Zelensky, in an interview with CNN, also highlighted that certain Ukrainian institutions were hindering the country’s progress in achieving its main goals, including building up their forces to match Russia’s military strength.
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Reports claiming that Zaluzhnyi was being fired spread rapidly, leading to denials from presidential spokesperson Serhiy Nykyforov and the defense ministry, stating that these reports were untrue.
In the event of Zaluzhnyi’s replacement, possible successors include Kyrylo Budanov, the current head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate, and Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of Ground Forces, who played a crucial role in the successful Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022.
The potential reshuffling of officials comes after Ukraine recently celebrated significant successes. They claimed to have sunk a Russian warship and shot down two of Putin’s spy planes worth millions of pounds. Furthermore, Ukraine announced that it has lost around 385,230 Russian personnel, along with numerous other military assets.
In a gesture of support, EU members agreed to extend £42 billion in new aid to Ukraine, aiming to bolster the country’s recovery efforts. With all these developments, it is evident that Zelensky is determined to steer Ukraine in a new direction by ensuring that the right leaders are in place to achieve the country’s goals.
Source: F5 Magazine