US Republican leaders have echoed calls for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s removal, escalating tensions between Washington and Kyiv, though European allies and public support in Ukraine remain firmly behind him.
Attempts to oust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a long-term target of Russian President Vladimir Putin, are now being repeated by top members of the US government. It came after a public clash between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that either Zelenskyy needs to "come to his senses" and negotiate or be replaced by another leader who will do it. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz went on to say that Washington requires a leader in Ukraine who can "deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war," according to NBC News.
Republican leaders signal shift in US support
Republican lawmakers such as Senator Lindsey Graham have asked if America can continue to deal with Zelenskyy, and they fear his failure to come on board with Trump's requirements might undermine US assistance to Ukraine. Such rhetoric fits Moscow's decades-old agenda of destabilizing Zelenskyy's presidency and installing a more pliable leader.
Kremlin's reaction
The Kremlin exploited the White House row, and White House Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov branded the Oval Office showdown as evidence of Zelenskyy's "shortcoming in diplomatic expertise." Nevertheless, European leaders back the Ukrainian head of state, and certain commentators believe last week's row had even strengthened his popularity at home. According to polls, public confidence among Ukrainians in Zelenskyy has actually grown in the wake of the Trump showdown, with support now standing at 49% and trust levels sitting at 65%.
Ukrainian elections
Trump and his entourage, including Elon Musk, have condemned Ukraine's move to delay its 2024 elections under martial law. Trump has even gone ahead to refer to Zelenskyy as a "dictator without elections." Recent opinion polls, however, show increased public support in Ukraine for delaying the elections during wartime.
Even though Trump insists that the approval rating of Zelenskyy is down to 4%, there is independent polling that contradicts this, where Zelenskyy emerges as a heavily supported leader. There are officials in the US, however, who insist that Ukraine requires a new leader who can negotiate terms with Russia. Former top commander of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who recently got posted to the United Kingdom as ambassador, is still one of the top-trusted personalities, although it is not forthcoming that he wishes to run against Zelenskyy.
Possible consequences for US-Ukraine relations
Ukrainian officials and experts contend that any attempt to remove Zelenskyy at this time would be only in Russia's interests. Some see the controversy with Trump as a demonstration of Ukraine's sovereignty and not as a humiliation. But as one Ukrainian soldier noted, the only pressure that would make Zelenskyy resign would be from the United States, highlighting the influence Washington still wields over Ukraine's leadership.
The future of Ukraine's leadership during war
Despite demands for his ouster, Zelenskyy has reasserted his determination to defend Ukraine and secure peace in the long term. His party allies assert that the topic of leadership transition during war is premature and risky. As tensions with the Trump administration have increased, European allies are firm in their backing, and the Ukrainian people seem to rally behind Zelenskyy's leadership. The evolving drama poses a chain of serious questions regarding the future of US-Ukraine relations and whether the changing position of Washington will affect the war's trajectory.
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