Sources among Ukrainian officials told Western media that the differences between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and AFU Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi arose due to different views on mobilisation and the discrepancy between what the army needs and what Ukrainian officials managed to get from their partners.
Mobilisation became the cause of disagreements between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi
Citing sources in Kyiv, Western publications write about the conversation between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhny and the disagreements between the Ukraine president and the Armed Forces commander-in-chief.
This was reported by The Washington Post.
In particular, according to a high-ranking official familiar with this conversation, Zelenskyy informed Zaluzhnyi that he was firing him during a meeting on Monday, January 29.
During the conversation, Zelenskyy told Zaluzhnyi that Ukrainians were tired of the war, and international donors had also slowed down the provision of military aid, so perhaps a new commander would rejuvenate the situation, the source claims.
Two persons spoke to the publication on the condition of anonymity. According to one interlocutor, senior members of Zaluzhnyi's staff are expected to be removed from their posts.
The differences between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi have escalated over differing positions on how many soldiers Ukraine needs to be called-up in 2024, two people familiar with the talks said.
According to interlocutors, Zaluzhnyi proposed mobilising about 500,000 military personnel. Zelenskyy considers this number impractical given the shortage of uniforms, weapons and training centres and potential problems related to recruiting.
Zaluzhnyi replied that Ukraine already lacks forces due to growing losses and needs to recruit more than 400,000 new soldiers, whom Russia plans to mobilise in its country. This was reported by one person familiar with the conversation.
According to a senior official, Zaluzhnyi was offered another position but refused and planned to resign from military service.
Another source of tension is what Zaluzhny requested from the Ukrainian military and what Kyiv's political leaders could get from allies and partners.
This was reported by a second source familiar with the meeting on January 29:
In conversations with the defence minister, he says: "It's not my job to get it, it's your job."
What is known about the tense relationship between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi
Rumours about strained relations and strategic disputes between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Valerii Zaluzhnyi have been circulating for several months.
On January 29, some Telegram channels and politicians wrote about the alleged dismissal of Zaluzhnyi from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that Zaluzhnyi was offered another position at Bankova, for example, ambassador, but he refused.
Presidential spokesman Serhii Nikiforov said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not fire Valery Zaluzhny. There was no corresponding decree.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not yet signed the decree on the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, but such a development is still possible.
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