Putin Calls On Ukrainian Military Generals To Topple Zelenskyy

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Ukrainian military leaders to overthrow President Volodimir Zelenskyy, proposing that a “transitional administration” be established in Ukraine, while promising that his forces would “finish off” the Ukrainian soldiers.

These uncompromising statements coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Since Trump’s reentry into the White House, a warming of relations between Washington and Moscow, coupled with the U.S. leader’s warnings of withdrawing support from Kyiv, has emboldened Putin more than three years into a military campaign that has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides.

Putin’s fresh demand to oust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reflects the Kremlin leader’s persistent ambition to install a regime in Kyiv more aligned with Moscow’s interests.

Addressing attendees at an Arctic forum in the early hours of Friday, March 28, Putin declared that Russia could negotiate with the United States, Europe, and Moscow’s partners, “under the auspices of the UN, the possibility of establishing a transitional administration in Ukraine.”

“For what purpose? To arrange a democratic presidential election that would lead to the rise of a capable government trusted by the populace, and then initiate discussions with these officials on a peace accord and sign legitimate documents,” Putin elaborated.

When Russia began its assault in 2022, its goal was to seize control of the Kyiv government within days, but Ukraine’s smaller military forces successfully pushed them back.

Putin also made a direct appeal to Ukraine’s generals to remove Zelenskyy from power, a leader Putin has frequently disparaged, without evidence, as a neo-Nazi and drug addict.

Moscow has further challenged Zelenskyy’s “legitimacy” as Ukraine’s president, following the expiration of his initial five-year term in May 2024.

Under Ukrainian law, elections are postponed during significant military conflicts, and Zelenskyy’s domestic critics have unanimously agreed that no voting should occur until the war ends.

Putin, who has ruled for 25 years and secured repeated victories in uncontested elections, has consistently labeled Ukraine as undemocratic throughout the conflict.

When questioned about Putin’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explained that they stemmed from Moscow’s perception of the Ukrainian leadership’s “total lack of control” over its military, which he accused of attempting to strike Russian energy infrastructure “on a daily basis.”

He noted that “at the moment,” Russia was adhering to a pledge not to target Ukrainian energy facilities—despite Kyiv’s repeated assertions, including today, that Russia has attacked them.

“The Russian side reserves the right if the Kyiv regime does not respect the moratorium, also not to abide by it,” Peskov stated.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli