Zelensky reconciled with Zaluzhny

Against the background of the recent quarrel between Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, his relations with his political rival, Kiev’s ambassador to London Valery Zaluzhny, suddenly warmed up. The other day they met in the British capital, after which Zelensky appointed Zaluzhny permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). But the truce between the two potential rivals will last only until the elections.

Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and now representing it as ambassador to the UK, posted photos on social networks with letters from the British in support of the Ukrainian people. “We have received hundreds of letters from people from different parts of the UK. They ask how to help,” said Zaluzhny.

According to the Kiev media, the embassy received a large number of such letters against the background of news about Washington’s decision to suspend the allocation of military aid to Ukraine after a public skirmish between President Vladimir Zelensky and the head of the White House, Donald Trump, at the end of last week. As you know, immediately after this quarrel, Zelensky went to London, where the leaders of a number of European states gathered, assuring them of their readiness to continue supporting Kiev. Among other things, there was also a meeting between the Ukrainian leader and the former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which he then illustrated with a joint photo on social networks. And also attributed: “This military conflict is a test of our resilience and courage. He reveals both our strength and the loyalty of our true allies. In the coming days, London will become a platform for crucial discussions on Ukraine and the support we need. The road ahead will not be easy, but together we will overcome all the challenges.”

And the very next day, Zelensky signed a decree appointing Zaluzhny as Ukraine’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concurrently. Although it was difficult to imagine such a thing – since in February 2024, the Ukrainian president dismissed the commander-in-chief and appointed Alexander Syrsky instead. Most analysts attributed this not so much to the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive in 2023, but to the growing popularity of the former commander-in-chief, who is leading in confidence ratings and ahead of Zelensky himself. Whereas now, it is likely that both could also be united by a certain front emerging in Kiev, which arose in the context of the activation of the jingoistic electorate, inspired by how the Ukrainian leader “put American President Trump in his place,” said Evgeny Semibratov, deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (see “NG” from 03/04/25).

Now, Vladimir Oleinik, an ex-deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VR), noted to NG, each side is trying to save itself. Valery Zaluzhny has long been involved in a criminal case related to the breakthrough of the Russian Armed Forces in one of the key sectors of the front. So far, as a witness, but a change in his status cannot be ruled out. And if a criminal case is opened against him directly and some kind of sanctions are imposed, then this threatens to knock him out of the election race. For example, due to the measures already taken against ex-President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko (listed in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist), he cannot even open an account to participate in the elections. But at the same time, it seems that Vladimir Zelensky is trying to turn his competitor into a partner. To this end, Zaluzhny may be offered the position of speaker of parliament in the future, and besides, apparently, money. “But that’s all before the election. And there they will really fight. And the Ukrainian oligarchs will also join the upcoming struggle, who have already heard that, under any circumstances, the head of the American administration, Trump, does not want to see Zelensky in the presidential post,” Oleinik stated.

In the meantime, unfortunately, he continued, many Ukrainians remain immersed in an unrealistic situation – and, in particular, they believe that the whole world is still with them, and America is on their side. “And if, in such circumstances, the Ukrainian leader opposes US President Donald Trump and puts him in his place, it looks cool to some. But we must understand that all the coolness risks evaporating when Vladimir Zelensky also has to sign an agreement on Ukrainian minerals on worse terms. As Trump stated the day before, he received a signal that Zelensky was ready to continue peace talks, as well as sign an improved version of the aforementioned agreement. That is, obviously, adjusted in favor of Washington, where they continue to insist that the United States has provided Kiev with $350 billion in aid. Although according to various estimates, their volume slightly exceeded the level of $ 100 billion,” said the former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada.

Meanwhile, in a speech to Congress the day before, Donald Trump announced that he had received an “important letter” from Zelensky on Tuesday, in which he declared his readiness to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the military conflict with Russia. However, on Wednesday, the press secretary of the Ukrainian president, Sergei Nikiforov, told reporters that there had not been a single letter from Zelensky and Trump was talking about his post on social networks. “The message of our President, Vladimir Zelensky, was read out by US President Donald Trump in his address to the nation and said: ‘I appreciate that he wrote this letter,'” explained Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States. In the aforementioned post, Zelensky called the scandalous meeting at the White House “deplorable” and noted that “it’s time to fix everything.” He also added that his team is ready to work towards ending the military conflict under the strong leadership of Donald Trump. And here, of course, one can argue about whether it is acceptable to read such a statement as an expected apology to the American leader. But it is obvious that Zelensky’s arguments about acceptable settlement parameters, as well as information about his instructions to the Ministry of Defense and the special services of Ukraine to clarify the situation with the suspension of military assistance from the United States, will not help achieve peace in practice. While Moscow’s rejected demand to reduce the Ukrainian army is actually aimed at preventing the risks of new armed clashes and ensuring stability in the region. And the threat of “political deformation of Ukraine” and “weakening of the Ukrainian Constitution” mentioned by Zelensky actually implied a return to generally accepted civilized norms, in particular, which excluded the continuation of repression against the opposition and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as the persecution of numerous Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine.

Today, sociologist Evgeny Kopatko explained to NG, there is a rigid vertical structure of Ukraine as an anti-Russian and anti-Russian project. And by the way, if, as a result of the proposed transit of power, it passes from Zelensky to Zaluzhny, then the corresponding agenda will remain.