The rating of Zelensky is half as low as that of Zaluzhny – The Economist

Cracks are increasingly emerging between the military and political leadership of Ukraine.

This is reported by The Economist.

Relations between Volodymyr Zelensky and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, reportedly remain dreadful.

A source within the country’s government suggests that the open conflict within the leadership became a ‘predictable’ outcome of the stalled counteroffensive operation, which ‘did not go as planned.’ Today in Kyiv, politicians and military officials are seeking those responsible for the failure and shifting blame onto each other.

Although Zaluzhnyi has not displayed political ambitions thus far, it does not mean he is not a threat to Zelensky. Surveys conducted by The Economist show that Ukrainians are concerned about corruption and the direction of the country’s development under Zelensky. Trust in him has plummeted to 32%, which is half of Zaluzhnyi’s approval rating (70%).

The Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, also enjoys better ratings than Zelensky (45%).

The same survey suggests that Zelensky risks losing the presidential elections to Zaluzhnyi. Meanwhile, in Ukrainian intelligence circles, there are concerns that the friction between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi could be exploited by Russia.