Zelensky, top gen not on same page? Reports say president wants him to go

KYIV: In Ukraine, hypothesis raged this week in political and army circles, the information media and on-line that Ukrainian President Zelensky had fired the commander, Normal Valeriy Zaluzhny, with rumours turning into so widespread that the president’s workplace was compelled to challenge a public denial. “There was no dismissal,” the president’s spokesperson, Serhiy Nikiforov, informed the media on Monday.The curt response has solely fuelled additional hypothesis. Different reviews stated that Zelensky requested Zaluzhny to step apart this week, however that he refused. One other supply accustomed to the matter informed Reuters on Wednesday that Ukraine’s floor forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi was provided the job of changing Zaluzhny, however declined. A former senior Ukrainian official stated Zelensky’s authorities had been planning on dismissing the final, however backed off Monday when the information was leaked. A Ukrainian member of parliament who had been briefed on the plans gave the same account, saying the 2 males met Monday night time however no choice was made. Eradicating Zaluzhny may additionally result in a thorny political drawback for Zelensky. The army commander now ranks as extra common than the president in some opinion polls, and dismissing him could be considered by some as a transfer meant to decrease the final as a possible political opponent. Zaluzhny’s job has been doubtful because it grew to become clear within the autumn that Ukraine’s counteroffensive within the nation’s south had failed. Zaluzhny is seen as a hero to many in Ukraine after his troops efficiently defended Kyiv firstly of the Russian invasion. Ukraine media have tipped Syrskyi and army spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as two potential successors to Zaluzhny.