CNN
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Apparent divisions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his military command are becoming increasingly public, following bitter exchanges over the progress of the war with Russia.
Igor Zhovka, deputy head of Zelensky’s office, on Saturday condemned the Ukrainian military chief’s assessment that the war with Russia is at a “stalemate,” escalating a row in Kiev that has heightened nerves over Western support for the conflict .
He was responding to an interview with military leader Valery Zaluzhny, who told The Economist on Wednesday that “we have reached the technological level that puts us in a dead end” and “there probably won’t be a deep and beautiful breakthrough” in war. .
Zhovka told Ukrainian television that Zaluzhny’s interview will have been “carefully read, noted and conclusions drawn” by the Russians. He said he received calls from his counterparts in “panicked” partner countries asking whether the war was really at a stalemate, as Zaluzhny described it.
“Is this the effect we wanted to achieve with this article? » » said Zhovka.
“It may be a very thorough strategic plan and we will achieve some success that way. But to be honest, I am very surprised,” Zhovka added.
These tensions come at a pivotal moment in the war, with Kiev’s slow counter-offensive and the surge in violence in the Middle East raising fears that Western financial and military aid could begin to weaken.
Zelensky also disagreed with Zaluzhnyi’s assessment during a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday, but admitted that people were “tired” after 18 months of war in the country.
“People are tired. Everyone is tired. There are different opinions (…) Everyone is human, whatever their status… But it is not a dead end. I emphasize this once again. We have already talked about that. This is not some kind of news,” Zelensky said.
“We all need to come together and solve problems, work more with our partners on air defense, unblock the skies and allow our men to take offensive action. This is what we need to think about. Only about that. Not sure where we will be tomorrow. But now,” Zelensky said.
Zaluzhny also outlined in his interview his vision of what Ukraine needs to do and what kind of support partners need to break the deadlock.
But his overall description of the conflict raised eyebrows in Ukraine and made international headlines. This came as a separate interview Zelensky gave to TIME portrayed the Ukrainian president as an increasingly isolated figure.
Roman chop/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images
Zelensky sought to insist that Ukraine could achieve complete military victory.
“No one believes in our victory like me. Nobody,” Zelensky told TIME, adding that instilling these beliefs in Ukraine’s allies “takes all your power, all your energy.”
“War exhaustion rolls like a wave. You see it in the United States, in Europe,” Zelensky reportedly said.
He admitted that the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas had distracted attention from Ukraine’s fight against Russia, complicating efforts to maintain international enthusiasm for his country’s fight.
“Of course we are losing from the events in the Middle East. People are dying and help from around the world is needed to save lives,” Zelensky said.
He added the comments during von der Leyen’s trip to kyiv on Saturday.
“It is obvious that the war in the Middle East, this conflict is distracting attention. I think this is one of the goals of the Russian Federation… It’s a fact. We see the results,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader previously expressed solidarity with Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks, recommending that world leaders “go to Israel” and offer support to “people who suffered terrorist attacks.”
Ukraine, for its part, continues a difficult counter-offensive against Russian forces to the south and east.
Kiev managed to launch more effective airstrikes and said its air force carried out successful airstrikes on Saturday on a shipyard in the eastern port city of Kerch on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk congratulated the pilots involved in the strikes in a message on Telegram. A designated Russian official said a shipyard was targeted, but air defenses shot down the missiles. CNN cannot independently verify any of these claims.
The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, was temporarily closed to traffic for two hours on Saturday. Russian authorities have not provided a reason for the closure of the vital artery that connects mainland Russia to the occupied peninsula.
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