The campaign to oust Volodymyr Zelensky is advancing rapidly. Among Vladimir Putin's demands for a peace agreement and troop withdrawal are the permanent annexation of the four occupied provinces - Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia - regardless of the current front line, or Ukraine accepting that it will not join NATO. But also, that the man who has led the resistance for three years steps aside. And the United States seems increasingly committed to this cause.
Donald Trump, after insulting him on social media calling him a "dictator," blaming him not only for being the main obstacle to ending the war but also for starting it, and shouting at him in front of cameras from the White House, has repeatedly stated that he doesn't believe Zelensky will "last long" if he continues to refuse to capitulate on terms set by others. And his 'co-chair,' Elon Musk, leads the online hunt, accusing him of illegally amassing wealth while maintaining the slaughter of his population and already proposing that he receive amnesty in exchange for leaving the country.
The first part of the US strategy was personal pressure. The second part was cutting off all military and intelligence aid to Ukraine, leaving them deaf and blind to many enemy attacks, to force him to resign for the country's good. The third phase is to charm his rivals and political enemies, pushing for very quick elections, counting on their narrative that Zelensky is truly unpopular and only has the support of 4% of the population, to become a reality.
According to its Constitution, Ukraine cannot hold elections while martial law is in effect, which is associated with the ongoing invasion and war. The US knows this but still presses the idea of organizing a national vote after a ceasefire comes into effect, without having to wait for peace negotiations to be finalized.
The American outlet Politico revealed on Thursday that four people from Trump's inner circle are meeting with key figures in Ukrainian politics, potential rivals of Zelensky, to expedite the election process. Among them are former President Petro Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
Trump's advisors believe that Zelensky has no chance of winning an election if he decides to run, due to the war's toll and public frustration with what is perceived as rampant corruption. His popularity ratings in polls have declined over time, but they have actually risen after the clash with Trump and his vice president last week in the Oval Office. And in any case, he holds a significant advantage over his potential rivals at present.
It is entirely normal for the US administration to speak with Ukrainian political leaders, in times of peace and war. This happened with Biden, and there is nothing abnormal about diplomats having open channels in all directions for information and context. But this situation would be different.
Both Tymoshenko and Poroshenko have publicly opposed holding elections before the fighting ends, as have other key figures like the Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, and his brother, who are regular figures in European capitals and all international forums. Poroshenko and Yulia's people are engaging with Trump's circle, positioning themselves as individuals who would be easier to work with and who would agree to many things that Zelensky disagrees with," a Republican Party foreign policy advisor told Politico, requesting anonymity to speak freely.
After this story was published, the parties of Tymoshenko and Poroshenko issued statements defending their diplomatic activities. The former Prime Minister, who was released from prison in 2014 during the Maidan protests due to popular pressure, stated that her team was negotiating "with all our allies who can help ensure a fair peace as soon as possible," but reiterated that she believes holding elections right now is impossible.
On the other hand, Poroshenko told the newspaper that his role is to mediate to mend broken ties with Trump, and that he is working "publicly and transparently with American partners, with the aim of preserving bipartisan support for Ukraine." He added that he had repeatedly offered to coordinate contacts with Zelensky's office and invited the Ukrainian ambassador in Washington to participate. "We have repeatedly spoken publicly about the lack of communication in the ruling team with the American administration, which poses a risk to the state," he added. "The essence of our conversations with representatives of the American side has always boiled down to two principles: security above all and peace through strength. That is, weapons, intelligence, sanctions against Russia, financial support, democratic resistance (freedom and democracy), transatlantic unity. Our team has always been and remains steadfast against holding elections during a war," they concluded.
CONCERN FOR REFUGEES IN THE US
Another cause for concern for Ukrainians, particularly those who have sought refuge in the United States, is what will happen to them following the shift in the Trump administration and clashes with its president.
As reported by Reuters on Thursday, the administration plans to revoke the temporary legal status next month for around 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia, potentially putting them on a fast track to deportation.
This measure, which was already in progress before Trump publicly quarreled with President Zelensky last week, is part of a broader plan to strip legal status from over 1.8 million immigrants who were allowed to enter the US under temporary humanitarian parole programs launched under the Biden administration. Measures regarding Cubans, Haitians, or Venezuelans had already been announced. And the list also includes tens of thousands of Afghans.
"This is another fake news story from Reuters based on anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about. The truth: no decision has been made at this time," wrote Caroline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, in a statement that does not dispel doubts.