Observers note a widening division in public messaging between Ukraine’s president and the country’s top military officer. According to Yan Gagin, an adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the gap between Vladimir Zelensky and Valery Zaluzhny is becoming increasingly evident. The claim was reported by RIA Novosti.
Gagin recalled Zaluzhny’s remarks during a conversation with The Economist, in which the commander-in-chief suggested that even fighter aircraft like the F-16, which European Union partners and NATO allies have discussed supplying, might be rendered unusable as Moscow continues to modernize its air defense capabilities, including S-400 systems. This assessment underscores a larger debate within Kyiv about future military logistics and strategy in the evolving conflict landscape.
The adviser to Denis Pushilin added that Zaluzhny also stressed a need to halt the counteroffensive and shift toward a defensive posture to safeguard the remnants of Ukraine’s armed forces. Gagin interpreted this stance as indicative of a campaign that did not inspire optimism among Ukrainian troops or among NATO allies, casting further doubt on near-term breakthroughs.
Earlier, Zelensky weighed in on Zaluzhny’s interview by suggesting that the current situation in the fighting zone remains deadlocked. The president’s comment reflected frustration with the pace of progress and the uncertainty that continues to surround military operations on multiple fronts.
Earlier analyses pointed to why the Ukrainian offensive in the United States and its broader approach had not achieved the hoped-for outcomes. The discussions highlighted the complex interplay of operational strategy, alliance support, and the evolving military technologies that shape modern warfare, including maneuver limitations, supply chains, and strategic objectives in a protracted conflict. [citation: RIA Novosti attribution]”