Kremlin focused on replacing Zelenskyy via pressure from US — report

Two serving diplomats and a Kremlin-affiliated source said Russia is seeking to remove President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and replace him with a more compliant leader. The sources claimed that even after entering “ceasefire negotiations” with Washington, the Kremlin has not abandoned its “maximalist objectives.”

They described Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s overarching goal as forcing Kyiv to capitulate, replacing Ukraine’s government, and bringing the country fully under Russian control — effectively turning it into another Belarus. The Kremlin’s minimal plan, the sources said, is to solidify control over four of Ukraine’s oblasts — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson — and to limit Kyiv’s political and military independence.

However, even this toned-down plan appears unrealistic at present. The Russian military does not fully control any of the four regions, and the sources admitted it is currently impossible to force Zelenskyy to cede these territories voluntarily.

Facing these military challenges, the Kremlin is reportedly pursuing an alternative strategy: discrediting Zelenskyy in the eyes of U.S. President Donald Trump, portraying him as an unreliable negotiating partner. One Kremlin-affiliated official said Russia’s objective is convince Washington to apply “unbearable pressure” on Kyiv to hold presidential elections.

“Zelenskyy will not agree to territorial concessions; we need to solve the problem at its root — he must go,” the official said.

Another Russian diplomat said Putin harbors a personal dislike for Zelenskyy. 

“He challenged Putin; one of our tasks is to ensure that he no longer heads Ukraine,” he said.

“That’s why we are methodically advancing the notion of his illegitimacy and the need for elections.” 

Sources said Kremlin officials hope Zelenskyy will be unable to secure reelection. Until he leaves office, however, Putin apparently is not prepared to make any concessions in peace negotiations.