The office of President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly criticized Ukraine’s top military commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, for declaring the war at a stalemate. The president’s office accused the general of aiding the Russian invasion with his remarks. This rebuke highlights a growing divide between the military and civilian leadership in Ukraine during a challenging period for the country. Speaking on national television, a deputy head of the president’s office, Ihor Zhovkva, expressed concern that the general’s comments were causing panic among Ukraine’s Western allies and benefiting the aggressor. President Zelensky disagreed with the assessment that the fighting was at a stalemate and emphasized that the war was ongoing. The public censure of General Zaluzhny came shortly after the dismissal of one of his deputies, the head of special operations forces, causing speculation about tension between the president and the military’s commanding general. Ukraine is facing difficulties in its war efforts both militarily and diplomatically, with limited advances along the trench line and increased Russian attacks in the East. The country is also concerned that the conflict between Israel and Hamas has diverted attention away from its war with Russia. Ukrainian officials and politicians have been blaming each other for the stalled counteroffensive, with some suggesting that Ukraine dispersed its forces too widely and others claiming that they did not receive sufficient weaponry. While tension between the president and the military has been rumored for over a year, this public disagreement is unprecedented. The cause of the dispute was an essay published by General Zaluzhny in The Economist, in which he argued that mechanized assaults were no longer feasible due to advancements in technology. He emphasized the need for advanced weaponry to break the stalemate. President Zelensky met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss Ukraine’s E.U. accession process and stressed the importance of not giving up in the face of challenges. The president’s office criticized General Zaluzhny’s remarks, fearing that they would discourage allies from providing military aid. The dismissal of one of the general’s deputies, Gen. Viktor Khorenko, further strained the relationship between the president and the military. Although General Khorenko had achieved success in special operations, there were concerns about politically guided decisions on strategy. This firing was seen as political interference and could have consequences for Ukraine’s war efforts.
