In the aftermath of a reportedly tense meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, the Ukrainian embassy in London saw a flurry of activity. JD Vance’s team allegedly reached out to Valeriy Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former military chief, now serving as the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office is believed to have been the source of the disagreement. According to sources, Vance’s team sought out Zaluzhny via various channels, but Zaluzhny declined to take the calls, following consultations with Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff.
The alleged objective of these attempts was to identify a strong alternative to Zelenskyy, as desired by the US administration. The report mentions rumors of existing friction between Zaluzhny and Zelenskyy, as highlighted by Zelenskyy’s removal of Zaluzhny from his military post in February. Despite the tensions, Zaluzhny has reportedly remained loyal to the government. Many people, both inside and outside of Ukraine, consider him to be a potential future president, and he is under pressure to enter the political arena.
With Ukraine’s elections currently on hold due to the war, even Zelenskyy’s most ardent critics are not pushing for elections at this time. The relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump seems to have improved since their initial meeting. Last week, the Ukrainian President met with Trump at the White House, where the atmosphere was reportedly more friendly. However, it’s widely acknowledged in Ukraine that elections will eventually occur. Recent polls indicate that Zaluzhny, who was instrumental in defending against the early Russian attacks, is the only individual who could realistically pose a threat to Zelenskyy.