President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Ukraine's top military commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, to step down on Monday, but the popular general refused, triggering speculation that he will be dismissed instead. Tensions between the two have been simmering for weeks amid the failure of Ukraine's summer counter-offensive.
Oleksii Goncharenko, an opposition MP and ally of the general, said that Zelenskiy asked Zaluzhnyi to resign but he declined. Goncharenko blamed personality clashes for the conflict, adding that Zelenskiy's office has been concerned that Zaluzhnyi has been making political rather than military statements. The defence ministry initially denied that any dismissal was imminent, but Goncharenko said Zaluzhnyi could still be forced out after assessing public and international reaction. The most likely replacement is Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence.
The political dispute between the president and his top general has been growing. Zaluzhnyi is the most popular figure in Ukraine after the president, and his high standing has irritated Zelenskiy's office, particularly as the president considers whether to hold fresh elections. In November, Zaluzhnyi told the Economist that the war was at a stalemate, a view Zelenskiy publicly dismissed. Speculation has swirled that Zaluzhnyi could challenge Zelenskiy for the presidency if elections are held, though he has never stated political ambitions.
Amid the leadership tensions, Ukraine's most urgent crisis remains persuading the US Congress to approve a $61bn military aid package. President Emmanuel Macron of France urged European leaders to accelerate aid, warning that a Russian victory would destroy Europe's security framework. Ukraine's counter-offensive that began in June has failed to break through Russian lines, and the real dispute between Zelenskiy and Zaluzhnyi appears to be political rather than military.
