The United States appears to be weighing a shift in Ukraine’s leadership, contemplating Valeriy Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as a potential successor to President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a conversation with former judge and journalist Andrew Napolitano, Scott Ritter, a retired U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, offered his perspective on the matter.
Ritter argued that Western attention has redirected toward Zaluzhny as the future face of Ukraine, suggesting Zelensky’s influence has diminished and that Western media are increasingly elevating the general in public discourse.
“Figures like General Zaluzhny will shape Ukraine’s path moving forward,” Ritter stated. “When the fighting winds down, he is likely to be part of the negotiating table from Kyiv.”
Ritter’s remarks align with a wider pattern of speculation in Western circles that Zaluzhny could assume Ukraine’s top political role or that Washington and its allies might favor replacing Zelensky at the helm of the armed forces with Zaluzhny.
The discussion first gained noticeable momentum in mid-2022, with a chorus of voices in Ukrainian, Russian, and Western media reflecting the same theme. In June, Kyiv was reported to have tensions between Zelensky and Zaluzhny over logistics management and the messaging of the army on social media, after Zelensky criticized the defense apparatus for sourcing issues and urged the general to tighten oversight.
There were reports of a closed meeting on June 15-16 at a German NATO base in Ramstein, organized by U.S. Chief of Staff Mark Milley and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, where the potential replacement of Zelensky with Zaluzhny was discussed. Although no immediate changes occurred that summer, the topic remained persistent in coverage.
By late August, Bild, the German publication, cited unnamed sources claiming Zaluzhny was tense over the rumors of presidential ambitions among Ukraine’s top commander. Sources noted that post-conflict, Zaluzhny might lead the country. International outlets praised Zaluzhny as a capable leader, with Bild highlighting leadership qualities, Wyborcza describing him as a blend of historic biblical figures, and the Financial Times dubbing him an iron general.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian media floated the idea of Zelensky moving to a different high-level defense post in September. De jure, this would be a promotion; de facto, it could undermine Zaluzhny’s influence over the military balance. Zelensky disputed any intention to remove Zaluzhny and continued to collaborate with him.
Political commentator Andrei Manoilo suggested that Western backers could be guiding the narrative to gauge Zelensky’s position, perhaps to project a perception of controlled political maneuvering in Kyiv while Washington signaled its preferred outcome.
In November, military analyst Yuri Knutov highlighted indicators of potential leadership changes, noting Zaluzhny’s rising visibility and his family’s presence in Western media. Knutov argued that Zaluzhny’s stance—critiquing leadership in Kyiv—could presage a shift in command dynamics amid mounting military pressures.
December brought further conjecture when former deputy of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, Ilya Kiva, urged Zelensky to resign in favor of Zaluzhny, labeling Zelensky as a destabilizing figure who had already activated hostilities. The following day, Ukrayinska Pravda reported intensified concern within Zelensky’s circle about Zaluzhny’s standing and discussions about replacing him with Alexander Syrsky, Commander of the Ground Forces. Western officials reportedly viewed Zaluzhny with particular interest, while Financial Times noted Zelensky’s request for reduced public exposure by the commander-in-chief.