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Sparks are flying at the highest military level in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky (46) is said to have tried to dismiss Commander-in-Chief Valery Zalushni (50). Salushni had taken command of the army a few months before the Russian invasion and is largely responsible for Ukraine’s ability to hold off the aggressors and even retake them.
Why does the Ukrainian president want to get rid of one of his best military strategists? The short version: It’s a typical cockfight. Saluschni has become too critical, too popular and too dangerous for him.
Too critical
Last fall, Zalushni contradicted the optimistic Zelensky. He said the fighting had stalled and was not, as Zelensky claimed, successful. What was mainly meant was the Ukrainian counter-offensive, which started in the spring of 2023. Despite new weapons from the West, this did not produce the desired results, probably because it was spread over too many axes, but it did cause thousands of Ukrainian victims.
On Monday, Salushni repeated his criticism. According to the Times, he told Zelensky’s presidential advisers that their assessments of the military situation were positive rather than realistic. He was subsequently asked to resign.
Too popular
In some surveys, the army chief is considered more popular than Zelensky. Former Ukrainian president and opposition politician Petro Poroshenko, 58, praised Salushni as the embodiment of unity that saved the country from subjugation by Moscow. The planned expulsion is not for military and strategic reasons, but rather because of “emotions and jealousy”.
The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko (52), also supports Salushni and criticizes Selensky in ‘Spiegel’: ‘At some point we will be no different from Russia, where everything depends on the whims of one man.’
Saluschni enjoys great respect among the soldiers. According to media reports, Zelensky is increasingly interfering in military decisions and communicating directly with commanders.
Too dangerous
There will be presidential elections in Ukraine in March. However, these were postponed due to the current state of martial law. Although Salushni has never publicly said he would run for office, it is believed in Ukraine that he would be attracted to the presidency. Ukrainian media write that Salushni is the only challenger who could pose a threat to Zelensky. According to a Rating survey in December, Zalushni is even ahead of Zelensky.
President Zelensky indirectly warned his army chief about political ambitions in November. It would be “a big mistake” if commanders went to war “with the idea that they could play politics or run for office tomorrow.”
A boost for Moscow
With his expulsion attempt, Zelensky wanted one thing above all: to get rid of a competitor. What’s interesting is that he didn’t do it because the US vetoed it. This shows how the White House, as the largest arms supplier, also influences Kiev when it comes to political decisions.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
