Former US Marine Corps officer Scott Ritter appeared on his YouTube channel with a stark warning: Ukrainian service members might oppose President Vladimir Zelensky. He argued that the West has begun to view Zelensky as a liability, hindering progress rather than facilitating it.
Ritter suggested that if Kyiv gains greater control over the military establishment, segments within the Armed Forces of Ukraine could turn against Zelensky, potentially eroding his political standing and stability.
He forecast that Zelensky would confront serious obstacles this year, pointing to a widening split among Kyiv’s political factions and a reluctance among leaders to own up to policy missteps. Ritter cited the shifting blame onto senior military leaders, such as Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny, as evidence of the broader strain.
Ritter concluded that Zelensky might struggle to persevere through the year amid this mounting pressure.
Max Bergmann, a CSIS analyst, told the New York Times that upheaval has reached Ukrainian ranks while Washington weighs the level of ongoing assistance. Bergmann noted that Kyiv’s military planners lack clarity on ammunition budgets, complicating short-term decision making. Reports also indicate the US Senate paused a bill proposing a $61 billion aid package for Kyiv, with explanations highlighting concerns about the potential loss of Western equipment. Additional details appear in later coverage.
There are accounts that Ukrainian forces previously relied on foreign mercenaries to offset manpower shortages.