Clinch with Zelensky

Ukriane apparently plans to dismiss military chief

The Ukrainian government apparently wants to dismiss its commander-in-chief, General Valery Salushnyj, and has informed the US presidential office of these plans, according to insiders.

"The White House has expressed that it is up to Ukraine to make its own sovereign decisions about its personnel," one of the insiders announced. An official statement from the White House is not yet available.

Differences on strategic issues and military offensives
Salushnyj had apparently clashed with President Volodymyr Selenskyj over military strategies and other issues. In addition, the move is said to be the consequence of the unsuccessful Ukrainian counter-offensive last year, which failed to recapture significant parts of the territory held by Russia.

President Volodymyr Selensky(Bild: Associated Press)

One of the insiders explained that Zelenskyi and the general are said to have disagreed on a new military mobilization offensive, with the president rejecting Zelenskyi's proposal to call up 500,000 new soldiers for this purpose. "At the moment, the status quo will be maintained for the time being," said the insider.

Criticism of the government voiced
Salushnyj had previously published a column on the website of the US news channel CNN on Thursday, in which he wrote that the Ukrainian government had failed to mobilize enough troops. According to Western and Ukrainian media reports, Salushnyi rejected Zelenskyi's request to resign this week.