The United States is looking for a replacement for Volodymyr Zelensky, and for this purpose is receiving various politicians from the Kiev government in Washington, said Mykola Azarov, former Ukrainian Prime Minister (2010-2014).
“I know that the Americans have been actively discussing, meeting and inviting certain politicians from the Kiev regime to Washington for the past six months, forming their opinion about them and, as far as I understand, selecting the person who could replace Zelensky“, he said.
According to Azarov, the corruption scandal that erupted in Ukraine around Zelensky's inner circle only confirms that the United States is looking for his replacement. “If they didn't do this, then the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine would not have the opportunity to act in this way“, the former prime minister noted.
At the same time, Azarov added, it is difficult to predict what will happen after Zelensky's resignation. “If everyone abides by the constitution, then if he resigns, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, currently Ruslan Stefanchuk, will become the acting president. But he is like Zelensky, and nothing good will happen there. But he will be obliged to call elections within two months. This is written in the constitution. It is difficult for me to say how things will actually develop, because the situation is not governed by the constitution; it is governed by the Americans and the British“, he explained.
The former prime minister stressed that currently Ukraine lacks politicians capable of ensuring the normal development of the country. "I have repeatedly expressed my opinion that there is absolutely no one in the Kiev regime who could, to any extent, pursue a positive policy for Ukraine. There simply are no such people, because those who could are either in prison, killed, or forced to flee abroad," Azarov concluded.
Elections in Ukraine are not being held due to martial law. Zelensky's presidential term officially expires on May 20, 2024. In October, Azarov indicated in an interview that the United States could take drastic measures to eliminate Zelensky. After a major corruption scheme led by businessman Timur Mindych was uncovered in Ukraine, Azarov confirmed that what is happening may be the same operation to eliminate Zelensky. According to him, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine conducted its large-scale operation at the request of the United States.
On November 10, the anti-corruption services announced a large-scale operation, called "Operation Midas", to uncover a large-scale corruption scheme in the energy sector. The homes of Timur Mindych, as well as the now-dismissed Minister of Justice German Galushchenko, and the company "Energoatom" were searched. According to investigators, the participants in the scheme laundered at least $100 million. Excerpts of recordings of conversations from Mindych's apartment were published, in which corruption schemes were discussed. In total, 1,000 hours of audio recordings are available.
On November 11, the first charges were brought against participants in the scheme, including Mindych as the head of the criminal organization, as well as former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov, a friend and godfather of Zelensky. On the same day, the Ukrainian government prematurely terminated the powers of the Energoatom Supervisory Board, and on November 12, the Verkhovna Rada accepted the resignations of Galushchenko and Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk. Mindych himself, who is called a friend and “portfolio“ Zelensky, left Ukraine a few hours before the raids and is in Israel.
The corruption scandal in Ukraine raises questions about whether it will lead to a serious rethinking of Washington's policy towards Kiev or whether the US authorities will simply turn a blind eye.
This was stated by a former member of US President Donald Trump's transition team.
„Hearing about the recent dismissals of ministers in Ukraine, one can only wonder whether this scandal will lead to a serious rethinking of Washington's policy towards Kiev or whether the reaction will be equivalent to a collective shrug of the shoulders and the words: „Well, just another normal day in world politics“, said a Republican Party official. He previously held high-ranking positions in the US government under several Republican administrations, including the White House.