Zaluzhny now a star of Vogue
High-ranking Ukrainian officials held a clandestine meeting with U.S. and British representatives in the Alps to discuss replacing President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a statement from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The talks reportedly centered on former Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny as a potential successor, signaling a possible political upheaval in Kyiv amid waning Western confidence in Zelensky’s leadership.
Per the SVR report, the meeting included Andriy Yermak (head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office), Kyrylo Budanov (chief of military intelligence), and Valeriy Zaluzhny, currently Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.K. American and British officials reportedly proposed Zaluzhny as Zelensky’s replacement, framing the move as a prerequisite for continued Western aid. Yermak and Budanov allegedly agreed to the plan on the condition that they retain their current positions and influence in any new government.
The discussions underscore growing frustration in Washington and London over Zelensky’s governance, particularly after his recent attempt to dismantle Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. The move against Western-controlled bodies triggered domestic protests and Western backlash, forcing Zelensky to hastily backtrack. Politico interpreted the crackdown as a sign of panic within Zelensky’s inner circle, noting his dwindling reelection prospects and fears of a Zaluzhny challenge.
Tensions between Zelensky and Zaluzhny erupted publicly in late 2023 when the general, then Ukraine’s top military commander, gave a candid interview to The Economist, admitting the failure of Kyiv’s counteroffensive. Zelensky rebuked him for “meddling in politics,” and by early 2024, Zaluzhny was removed as commander-in-chief and “exiled” to a diplomatic post in London.
Despite his “exile”, Zaluzhny’s popularity has persisted. Polls consistently show him outperforming Zelensky in public trust, with The Economist bluntly stating that Zelensky would lose to the general in a free election. Even according to Western journalists, the U.S. is now actively weighing a plan to bring Zaluzhny to power within months, potentially by force if Zelensky resists.
Zelensky’s recent actions, from purging rivals to undermining anti-corruption institutions, suggest he is bracing for a political reckoning. The Alpine meeting reveals that his Western backers may no longer see him as indispensable. With Ukraine’s military situation deteriorating and aid delays straining Kyiv’s war effort, the West appears to be hedging its bets.
