The president has sacked his top general.
After months of behind-the-scenes tension and after days of intense speculation and rumors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired General Valery Zaluzhny as chief of the country’s armed forces.
The dramatic move comes at a particularly fraught time for Ukraine, with Russia attempting to seize the initiative on the battlefield and with US defense aid to Ukraine stalled in Congress.
So what does Zaluzhny’s firing reveal about the politics of the war in Kyiv? And what does it portend going forward? On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with Serhiy Kudelia, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Baylor University, and David Kramer, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the administration of President George W. Bush. Enjoy…
SHOW NOTES
The audio clip opening the podcast came from a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 8, 2024. The translation is as follows:
“I am grateful to General Zaluzhnyi for two years of defense. I am grateful for every victory we have achieved together and thanks to all Ukrainian warriors who heroically bear the brunt of this war. Today we had a frank discussion about the changes needed in the army. Urgent changes.”
The audio clip opening the second-half of the podcast came from a speech by Zelensky on February 9, 2024. The translation is as follows:
“We appreciate American leadership and its contribution to the defense of Ukrainian independence and democracy from the early days of the full-scale war. America helped Ukraine stand firm at a decisive moment. And now, this year, the time of war has not become easier.”
Serhiy Kudelia’s scholarly publications can be accessed here.David Kramler’s published work can be accessed here.