They seem to have passed geological from it since Volodymyr Zelensky it represented the lighthouse of freedom for the West. Applause, hagiographies and so on: a riot for that courageous Ukrainian leader who rebelled against the arrogance of Russia by Vladimir Putin. A little over three years are actually passed since the invasion of the Kremlin troops and the sentiment towards the Ukrainian president has changed a lot. And not only in Kiev: in the West, including Italy, the judgment on the leader of Kiev has cooled a lot.
Let’s take as a reference precisely what happens from us. Zelensky has been praised by everyone, none excluded. We remember the campaigns towards him, complete with an invitation to Sanremo Festivalthe event most followed by the Italians. A real symbol. And now? Well, the picture has radically changed. Just think that in the Roman square convened by Serra Almost nobody has appointed the Ukrainian president, speaking only of peace, war, weapons and so on. Volodymyr is no longer at the center of thoughts. Indeed, it almost risks turning into a weight for someone.
Why risk the enlargement of the conflict? Why not deal with Putin? These questions once could not even be thought, while now they are increasingly common. And often in a clear tone towards Zelensky, guilty not to take a step back, not to be available in the elections, not to give this or the one to the Kremlin. Times change. As previously highlighted, three years ago they would have accused you of being in Putin’s penny for externalizations that today all make a little, regardless of the political flag.
The situation is very delicate for the Ukrainian president. After the vote in the United States, Zelensky is Released defeated and bitterfinding himself depending on a often divided Europe and which above all does not have the same military resources of the United States. With Trump the situation has returned Serena, but surely it remains light years away from when she came to the American congress triumphantly, seen as the symbol of the struggle between good and evil. Exactly what happened in Italy, neither more nor less.
One of the main limits of Zelensky was perhaps his progressive isolation. The simple and helpful man who once had managed to conquer many consents gradually closed in a circle of “Yes Men”, losing contact with reality. Popular criticism has increased with the growth of victims between soldiers and civilians and the lack of a perspective of peace. For more than a year, the sense of unity that had characterized the first mobilization seems to have dissolved. In addition, criticism emerged for his lack of preparation of the army in the face of the Russian threat. In 2021, Joe Biden had warned him, but he focused on infrastructure works to earn internal consents.
As regards the presidential elections, with the increase in US pressure and without an agreement that guarantees the support necessary for a second term – option that at the moment seems unlikely – could also decide to resign, allowing its replacement with the President of the Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Alternatively, a race for his succession would open, with several candidates in the running.
The picture would change if Zaluzhny resisted the temptation to apply and remain neutral. In this case, the race to the presidency would be much more open, with the usual known as Oligorca and former President Petro Poroshenko and new faces, such as Kirilo Budanov, head of military intelligence, who enjoys great popularity, second only to that of Zaluzhny. It is not excluded that, if Trump should continue to veto on Zelensky, the United States can focus on another candidate, still to be defined. As demonstrated by the election of Zelensky in 2019, the choice of the next president is often determined by the other factors, and then be ratified by the popular vote. Six years ago, behind the scenes, it was the Ukrainian oligarchs who played a central role; This time, however, it is likely that external actors will play a decisive role.
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