The Ukrainian administration has warned the White House about the intention of President Volodymyr Zelensky to fire the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, the Washington Post reports, citing its sources.
According to the publication, the idea was rejected in the White House, but they did not protest, recognizing that the right to choose remains with the Ukrainian president.
According to the Washington Post, the advance notification to Washington indicates the important role of the US as the main military and political ally of Ukraine.
The resignation of Zaluzhny, who is an important figure in Ukraine, could affect the morale of Ukrainian troops and undermine the confidence of Western donors. However, any US attempt to challenge Zelenskyi's decision could be perceived as an attempt to exert excessive influence.
"The feeling of division at the top of Kyiv is not good for Ukraine, but the US government should refrain from interfering," said Stephen Pifer, an Eastern Europe expert at Stanford University and former US ambassador to Ukraine.
Information sources of the Washington Post note that Volodymyr Zelenskyi could postpone the resolution of this issue indefinitely, but the likelihood of this seemed unlikely.
The tense relationship between Zelensky and Zaluzhny, which has been actively covered by the Ukrainian media for two years, has become more noticeable in recent months.
According to the Washington Post, the president suspects the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of political ambitions. In addition, Zelensky and Zaluzhny have different views on the conduct of the war, in particular, regarding the General Staff's plans to mobilize an additional 500,000 Ukrainians.
Already on Monday, January 29, rumors began to spread about Zelenskyi's intention to fire Zaluzhnyi . On the same day, according to the BBC, the president invited the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces to a meeting, where he informed him of his decision. Zelenskyi also noted that he will sign a decree on this in the near future.
Zaluzhny's column appeared on CNN on Thursday, where he talked about his vision of the war with Russia at the current stage. According to the BBC correspondent Sviatoslav Khomenko, "this text looks little like the will of the military leader", and the question arises: "What exactly did Zelensky not like in this regard, and what exactly does he propose?"
For Volodymyr Zelensky, the challenge is to replace the highly popular Valery Zaluzhny. Two possible candidates are now being considered, the Washington Post reports: 38-year-old head of intelligence Kyrylo Budanov and 58-year-old commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi.
However, according to the publication, Budanov feels grateful for his current job and does not aspire to a new post. Syrskyi, although he played a key role in repulsing the attack on Kyiv during the full-scale invasion, does not enjoy a good reputation among the military.
He is considered a typical Soviet commander who may not pay due attention to losses among the Ukrainian military. Regardless of who succeeds Zaluzhny, it probably won't end the conflicts between the general and the president, and, according to the Washington Post, "he will still remain a popular figure in Ukraine."
