Dispute with General

Zelenskyi wants a “new start” for military leadership

Zelenskyi wants to reorganize his military leadership.(Bild: AFP)

Almost two years after the start of the major Russian attack on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi says he is considering a reorganization of his country's leadership. "A new start is necessary", Selenskyj told the Italian television station RAI in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

In view of repeated speculation about a possible replacement of the popular military commander-in-chief Valery Salushnyi, Zelenskyi said that he was thinking about replacing a number of leading representatives of the state, not only in the military. "I am thinking about this replacement. It is a question for the entire leadership of the country."

Fallen out of favor: Military chief Valery Salushnyi(Bild: AFP)

Selensky explained that unity and confidence were necessary. "If we want to win, we must all pull together," said the president. "We must not be discouraged, we must have the right and positive energy. Negativity must stay at home. We cannot afford to give up."

Selenskyj wants to reorganize his military leadership.(Bild: AFP)

General criticizes stalemate
There have been repeated disagreements between Zelensky and Salushny in the past. In November, the general declared that the war had reached a stalemate, drawing a rebuke from the president. Previously, the Ukrainian military had achieved only limited success with a counter-offensive against the positions of the Russian army on the approximately 1000-kilometer-long front.

In a recently published article for the US television station CNN, Salushnyj criticized, among other things, that it had not been possible to build up sufficient combat power due to resistance in Ukraine.

Resignation rejected
According to media reports, the respected general is said to have rejected the president's request to resign. Army chief Olexander Syrskyj and military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanow were named as possible successors in the office of supreme commander.