LONDON (AP) - Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was removed as head of Ukraine's army in February 2024 and appointed ambassador to Britain, is perceived as a key political rival to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite his reluctance to discuss political ambitions to preserve national unity during a prolonged war with Russia, Zaluzhnyi recently acknowledged a significant fissure between himself and Zelenskyy, indicating a possible intent to pursue the presidency after the conflict ends.
The tensions between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy began following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Disagreements regarding military strategies escalated, culminating in a 2022 incident where Zaluzhnyi's office was raided by dozens of agents from Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, an event he claims was intended to intimidate him. According to Zaluzhnyi, this incident underscored their rivalry at a critical time when maintaining national unity was essential.
While the Zelenskyy administration and Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) declined to comment on the raid, Zaluzhnyi's assertion that it was a threatening act could have polarizing effects on public opinion amidst ongoing warfare. Currently, Russian forces have been making steady advances on Ukraine's eastern front, and as the U.S. seeks to mediate peace, both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
During the raid, Zaluzhnyi claimed he reached out to Zelenskyy's chief of staff, asserting his willingness to use military force to protect his command center in Kyiv. Despite this incident, tensions continued, particularly regarding a counteroffensive in 2023 that failed to achieve its objectives, leading to Zaluzhnyi's dismissal as army chief shortly thereafter. Analysts view this move as an effort by Zelenskyy to mitigate Zaluzhnyi's potential political threat by relocating him to London.
Polls indicate that Zaluzhnyi might have a slight edge over Zelenskyy in a hypothetical election, signaling a shift in public sentiment as Zelenskyy's popularity wanes amid the protracted conflict and a corruption scandal involving top officials in his administration. Recently, Zelenskyy has attempted to revamp his leadership team in an effort to regain public trust.
In September 2022, amid a successful counteroffensive, Zaluzhnyi faced a significant challenge when agents from Ukraine's Security Service appeared at his office without a clear explanation for their search. This incident, coupled with the internal disagreements about military strategy, illustrated the fractured relationship between the two leaders. Zaluzhnyi has criticized the military's strategic organization and resource allocation in subsequent engagements, including a controversial 2023 counteroffensive that received criticism for being poorly timed and overly ambitious.
Zaluzhnyi's current position at the Ukrainian embassy in London reflects his military background, filled with military memorabilia and real-time battlefield feeds. He continues to critique Ukraine's military endeavors, suggesting that their reliance on unrealistic troop numbers and poor technological integration hinders operational effectiveness. Despite his critical stance, Zaluzhnyi has refrained from involving himself in political affairs since his departure from active military leadership, describing conversations with Zelenskyy as “absolutely friendly.”
However, there are discussions about potential political strategies for Zaluzhnyi, with a notable American political consultant having approached him for assistance since his ambassadorship, identified as Paul Manafort—an individual relevant in previous U.S. politics. Zaluzhnyi has maintained that he does not seek outside help for a campaign, emphasizing his focus on national unity over political aspirations until the war concludes.
With an Ipsos poll highlighting 23% support for Zaluzhnyi in a potential election compared to Zelenskyy's 20%, many in Ukraine view Zaluzhnyi as a transformative figure, potentially driven by dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy’s presidency. This prevailing sentiment underscores the complex political landscape in Ukraine, particularly as the country navigates the ongoing conflict.
