President Zelensky Is Considering Replacement Of A Number Of Ukrainian Officials, Not Just Military Officials

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview broadcast Sunday said he was considering replacing a number of senior officials of the country, not just in the military sector.

He conveyed this when news of the plan to dismiss Ukrainian Military Chief General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi by President Zelensky circulated in Ukraine recently, when the two clashed over the war with Russia which had been going on for almost two years.

However, President Zelensky said any changes were more than just replacing one person to take advantage of efforts to expel Russian troops.

"When I talk about turnovers, what I mean is something serious that doesn't cover just one person, but the direction of this country's leadership," President Zelensky told Italian state television RAI when asked about General Zaluzhnyi.

"This is a question of the people who will lead Ukraine. A reset is necessary, I am talking about the placement of a number of country leaders, not only in the military sector," he continued.

"I'm thinking about this placement. This is a question for all the leaders of the country," he said.

To win the war, President Zelensky continued, "We all have to push in the same direction, we must not be discouraged, we must have the correct and positive energy, the negative must be left behind. We must not take the attitude of surrender."

It is known that differences have surfaced since last year's retaliatory Ukrainian strike resulted only in limited progress against Russian troops who were at the forefront of 1,000 km (600 miles) south and east of Ukraine.

In his essay for The Economist last November, General Zaluzhnyi said the war had entered a new phase of friction. This received a warning from President Zelensky.

Last week, when speculation over his dismissal escalated, he put forward his case in a comment to CNN about the new electronic warfare tool.

He also said several Ukrainian institutions prevented his country from achieving its goals, including efforts to build effective combat forces to offset Russia's advantages through "unpopular acts" such as mass mobilization.

General Zaluzhnyi himself received admiration from Ukrainians for overseeing operations to expel Russian troops advancing to Kyiv at the start of the war and further progress that reclaimed large parts of the south and northeastern region.

In two occasions in the past week, Ukrainian media issued many reports of the sacking of General Zaluzhnyi imminent. At least in one example, a presidential spokesman for such a change.

Questions also arise about whether General Zaluzhnyi has been offered alternative jobs, such as ambassadors and who may replace him.

The two main candidates possible are Oleksandr Syrskyi, army commander and Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.