Ukraine: struggle between president and army chief?
According to media reports, Volodymyr Zelensky has attempted to dismiss Valerii Zaluzhnyi as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several newspapers reported that the Ukrainian president had offered the general the post of defence minister instead, which, however, Zaluzhnyi rejected. The Ministry of Defence and the Presidential Office have denied the claims. In November Zaluzhnyi sharply criticised the situation on the front. The press takes a closer look.
Just a matter of time
Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal is foreseeable, writes political scientist Volodymyr Fessenko in NV:
“A failed rehearsal for his resignation may have taken place on 29 January. According to some sources he was offered ‘something else’, but turned it down. However in all likelihood this wasn’t the last attempt at his dismissal. Perhaps it will go through once a ‘successor’ is found. ... Zaluzhnyi’s resignation is just a matter of time and circumstances. The circumstances include the situation at the front, which is unlikely to improve, as well as Zaluzhnyi’s activities on social media and above all the political activities and ‘talkativeness’ of those around him.”
Recruiting at the heart of the dispute
Mobilisation is the bone of contention, writes political scientist Olexander Kochetkov in Censor.net:
“There is a serious conflict between Zaluzhnyi and Zelensky over how the war should be conducted. ... The commander-in-chief needs 300,000 to 500,000 combat-ready recruits as quickly as possible. ... Zalushnyi is convinced that the army should train recruits, but that the political leadership should win them over for the army. ... The president is potentially willing to sacrifice his public image over mobilisation, but he is demanding guarantees from the commander-in-chief that the difficult mobilisation will lead to a breakthrough in the fighting. ... Zaluzhnyi, however, cannot offer such guarantees.”
A popular rival
Zaluzhnyi could become dangerous for Zelensky, Rzeczpospolita comments:
“No one doubts that the president and his administration tried to get rid of the general. To avoid upsetting the public — Zalushnyi is very popular — they wanted to force him to resign of his own accord. Clearly, he didn’t agree to that. ... So far, Zalushnyi hasn’t given any indication of political ambitions that could pose a threat to the current leadership. On the other hand, ‘Bankova’ (the name of the street where the presidential administration is located) would have had a big problem if he had. The general is not only popular with the people, he also enjoys the support of the army, where President Zelensky is losing popularity.”
