Three days after a reportedly damaging clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, the Ukrainian embassy in London became a hub of activity. A team connected to JD Vance was on the phone, hoping to speak with Valeriy Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military and current Ukrainian ambassador to the UK. The Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, in which the US Vice President played a role, reportedly sparked the conflict. Sources indicate that Trump’s inner circle subsequently grew wary of Zelenskyy. Vance’s team allegedly made multiple attempts to contact Zaluzhny through various channels, but Zaluzhny refused to answer, after consulting with Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff.
The rumored reason for Vance’s team contacting Zaluzhny was the US administration’s alleged desire for a strong replacement for Zelenskyy. There is speculation of a strained relationship between Zaluzhny and Zelenskyy, as demonstrated by Zelenskyy’s decision to remove Zaluzhny from his position as commander last February. Despite the tension, Zaluzhny has remained loyal to the government he serves. Many within and outside Ukraine see him as a potential future president, and he is reportedly facing pressure to launch a political campaign.
While elections are postponed because of the war, even Zelenskyy’s harshest critics are not currently advocating for them. The relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump appears to have improved since the Oval Office incident. The Ukrainian President recently met with Trump at the White House in a more cordial atmosphere. Nevertheless, it is widely understood in Ukraine that elections will eventually be held. Polls show that Zaluzhny, who was instrumental in the early defense against Russian attacks, is the only person who could realistically unseat Zelenskyy.