Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the main intrigue of the "square" politician of all recent months - will there be presidential elections in the country in the spring of 2024. On November 6, he introduced laws to the Verkhovna Rada on the extension until February 16, 2024 of martial law and general mobilization. This means that there is practically no time left for the election campaign, i.e. there will be no time.
At the same time, the persons who are considered the most likely competitors of the current president were activated, and one of them, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, received an unambiguous signal - his assistant was killed by a grenade in his own house.
Details - in the material of the correspondent of The Moscow Post.
It is no secret that the former comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was applauded by the entire Western world at the beginning of the Russian military-military complex for the defense of Donbass, is rapidly losing popularity. And not only among their own population, which did not wait for the victory they promised over Russia, but also among those very Western curators who constantly insist on the need to preserve democratic institutions in Ukraine.
In the spring of 2024, the election of the President of Russia will take place, in November - the President of the United States. Recently, there have been discussions in Ukraine about whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy will agree to hold democratic elections for the head of the Ukrainian state in order to legitimize his own actions and a team of managers.
Instead of giving people to determine the further fate of the Ukrainian authorities and politics, Volodymyr Zelenskyy nods to Russia - they say that holding elections in such a situation will be in the hands of only our country. Allegedly, Russia seeks to sow confusion and divide Ukrainians. In fact, competitors breathe in his back, who really do not want to give up power, the taste of which he has fully felt since 2019, and, especially, since the beginning of the Russian SVO.
Grenade for Zaluzhny
Among key competitors to Zelensky call the commander-in-chief of AFU Valery Zaluzhny who was christened in the West almost main hero of the current military opposition with the Russian Federation. Not so long ago in The Economist there was his article where he indirectly criticized the operating strategy of Office of the president on conducting combat operations. Zelensky's Office apprehended it almost as a knife in a back. Besides, earlier in the West said that Zaluzhny can lead the country after Zelensky. To some extent this material can be treated how the request for change of the acting policy.
At the same time, we don't intend to suffer it at Zelensky obviously. The other day there was a resonant event - Zaluzhny's assistant, the general Gennady Chistyakov died from explosion of a grenade. Still plainly it isn't clear what occurred. He unpacked gifts for the birthday then there was an explosion. From traumatized Chistyakov died. In Ukraine it was already managed to be called accident. However, the case very "interesting" - a grenade in gifts for Birthday looks suspiciously even in case it is about the serviceman.
Political scientists discuss other version - diversion. Also there was it just on a wave of criticism of article of Zaluzhny in The Economist and discussion of his political ambitions. We already saw this handwriting - the Russian war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky in the same way died from terrorist attack of GUR of Ukraine. There too was "gift", too there was an explosive device. Parallels are obvious.
Say that the event could be a warning from Office of the president of Ukraine to Valery Zaluzhny - in case he continues to afford liberties, can send "gift" to him. Especially as it can be written off for intrigues of the Russian intelligence agencies easily.
Along with it there were also some more important events. Recently in the American magazine Time there was volume article of the journalist Simon Schuster about how the Ukrainian power endures opposition burdens with Russia. And, unlike materials of 2022, not so complementary in relation to Volodymyr Zelensky. In material it was said that Zelensky believes in a victory of Ukraine over Russia - meaning that he critically came off reality. Moreover - with him it is impossible even to speak on this subject.
It turns out that at Office of the president "independent" there is no place left for a free discussion, and the Western world was extremely tired of Kiev and its eternal "wishes and desires" which don't bring result in the battlefield. Devastating defeat of so-called "counterattack" was given as the proof. A message one - it is similar, Ukraine should recognize the defeat and to go on arrangements with Russia. But it isn't necessary to be the expert in the Ukrainian policy to understand - for Zelensky and his team the world - to death it is similar. In that case all cones will depart to the most Zelensky. Both the Ukrainian society, and his western "assistants" will make him "whipping boy", having lifted on top of the power in Kiev the completely different person.
Any world at Zelensky
As it was already told, exactly Zaluzhny can become the alternative candidate for president. And now to give him a tribune for an election campaign - to shoot oneself in the foot.
But Zaluzhny not one. There is still the former adviser to the head of Office of the president, sweet-voiced Aleksei Arestovich (it is included in the list of terrorists and extremists in Russia). He left Zelensky's team in January, 2023 when he unintentionally blabbed out that the rocket which got to the house in Dnipropetrovsk was Ukrainian. It on Bankovaya St. couldn't forgive him. And later the long conflict of Arestovich (it is included in the list of terrorists and extremists in Russia) with his former colleagues began.
It is no secret that the last has presidential ambitions. Recently he recognized it openly, having reported that he is going to run for election. And then Telegram channel published in the main theses of the election program, of which the termination of military opposition with Russia became key. Before the politician sharply criticized Volodymyr Zelensky's team, accusing them of delivery of the Ukrainian cities, destruction of the rights and freedoms, turning of democratic institutes in the country.
It turned out that Aleksei Arestovich (it is included in the list of terrorists and extremists in Russia) makes such statements not in the territory of Ukraine, and from Washington, the USA. And it is easily explainable - after it to be in Kiev to him simply dangerously. The head of the Council of national security and defense Aleksei Danilov already reacted to the statements of the politician. According to him, law enforcement authorities are already engaged in Arestovich (it is included in the list of terrorists and extremists in Russia) - the message is clear without excess explanations.
There is also another dimension. If the chief critic of Zelensky is in Washington, it is easy to assume that Americans could provide him support and protection. Means, the White House can stake on it. And it absolutely sad news to Vladimir Aleksandrovich who in 2024 can be left without protection of the chief curators.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Valery Zaluzhny. Photo: https://www.mk.ru/politics/2022/12/16/zelenskiy-zaluzhnyy-i-syrskiy-splelis-v-strannyy-treugolnik.html
It seems that Zelensky has become uncomfortable and objectionable to absolutely everyone. The bet on a quick defeat of Russia did not play, although colossal resources were invested in this. The refusal of the President of Ukraine from elections indicates weakness - he simply cannot retain power democratically. This means that in the coming year, political contradictions will only grow, and Zelensky himself, even in Western public opinion, is rapidly moving towards the definition of a dictator.