As His Term of Office Ends, the Russian Intelligence Agency Says Public Sentiment Towards President Zelensky is Changing

JAKARTA - The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) in a statement said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is starting to lose the battle for the "hearts and minds" of the Ukrainian people, as he will lose his legitimacy after his term ends on May 20.

"(Ukrainian President) Volodymyr Zelensky is clearly starting to lose the fight for the 'hearts and minds' of the Ukrainian people, even more so because his legitimacy as president will end after his five-year term ends on May 20," according to the statement, reported by TASS, May 7.

SVR further emphasized that the United States does not care "who leads Ukraine".

"The most important thing is that this person can continue the armed conflict with Russia. The 'war to the last Ukraine' must not stop," continued SVR.

However, the intelligence agency added, Western countries were "very concerned about changes in public sentiment in Ukraine."

"The US Department of State and the European External Action Service indicate that Ukrainians are increasingly frustrated with the never-ending conflict with Russia. They are also losing faith in government institutions, and apathy is quickly sweeping the country," SVR stressed, adding: "Force Ukrainian armed forces report increasing cases of defections and voluntary surrenders."

According to SVR, the US and European countries "want Zelensky to remain in his post because he is a key figure in a war financing scheme that provided huge profits for Kyiv regime officials and Western arms manufacturers."

"Nonetheless, Washington and its allies are trying to persuade Zelensky's opponents in Ukraine to exercise restraint for now," SVR concluded.