NATO is considering a campaign to discredit Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in an effort to remove him from power ahead of possible elections next fall, according to claims made by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on Monday. The intelligence agency suggests that Western officials view Zelensky as a major obstacle to peace negotiations with Moscow.
Despite his term officially expiring in May 2024, Zelensky remains in office, having postponed elections under martial law imposed after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. The SVR alleges that NATO and Western leaders are looking to “freeze” the war by pressuring both sides into negotiations, but Zelensky is resistant to such plans.
According to the Russian agency, Washington and Brussels consider Zelensky “expendable” and are preparing to undermine his credibility. The SVR claims that Western officials plan to link Zelensky’s administration to the embezzlement of $1.5 billion meant for military purchases, as well as the misappropriation of salaries intended for 130,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers still listed as active service members.
The report further alleges that Zelensky has been involved in the illegal sale of Western-supplied weapons to armed groups in Africa. These claims, if proven true, could significantly damage the Ukrainian leader’s standing both domestically and internationally.
The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency has also added uncertainty to Ukraine’s future support from the West, the SVR suggested, which is accelerating NATO’s push to replace Zelensky with a more compliant leader. However, the intelligence agency claims that NATO’s primary goal remains ensuring Ukraine continues as a strategic anti-Russian foothold, regardless of the battlefield situation.
Neither NATO nor Ukrainian officials have responded to the SVR’s accusations. Meanwhile, in an interview with the Associated Press over the weekend, Zelensky accused Russia of avoiding peace talks and reiterated his call for Western security guarantees, insisting that Ukraine’s NATO membership would be the “cheapest” way to ensure long-term stability.
Moscow has repeatedly stated its willingness to negotiate but maintains that peace talks are hindered by Zelensky’s 2022 decree prohibiting discussions with Russia. The Kremlin insists that a lasting settlement must include Ukraine’s neutrality, the withdrawal of its forces from Russian-claimed territories, and legal protections for Russian-speaking populations.
