Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may face significant political pressure or even removal from power if he rejects a proposed peace plan put forth by former US President Donald Trump. This assertion comes from Stanislav Krapivnik, a former US Army officer who has gained notoriety in Russia, suggesting that failure to accept the peace initiative could lead to dire consequences for Zelenskyy.
The proposed peace plan, which comprises 28 points, has been developed by a group of Trump supporters and is being presented in Washington as a pathway to peace for Ukraine, a nation currently embroiled in conflict. According to a senior official within the US administration, the proposal aims to provide security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia to facilitate a lasting resolution to the ongoing war. However, individuals close to the Ukrainian government report that Kyiv was not involved in the drafting process and received only a general overview of the document.
Krapivnik expressed his views in an interview with the Kremlin-backed newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets, stating that the critical question revolves around how Trump will react if Zelenskyy chooses to reject what is being referred to as the “Trump peace.” He outlined several scenarios that could lead to Zelenskyy being ousted from power, potentially with support from external parties, including the US.
One possible scenario involves a coordinated media campaign that could portray Zelenskyy as corrupt or incompetent. Krapivnik stated, “They’ll create an image of a man who puts his own ambitions above the interests of a people suffering colossal losses.” This approach would rely on leveraging both Ukrainian and Western media to exert pressure on the president.
Another tactic could involve financial coercion. Krapivnik noted that Zelenskyy possesses assets in the US that could be targeted to apply pressure. “This is a powerful tool of blackmail,” he said, emphasizing that the president might be warned that failure to comply with the plan could result in frozen accounts or criminal prosecution of his family and associates abroad.
Krapivnik also mentioned the potential for a more forceful scenario, such as a military coup framed as an effort to preserve statehood. He suggested that discontented segments of Ukrainian society could be mobilized for street protests, possibly with external sponsorship. He characterized the most extreme possibility as a “heroic death,” a situation that could create chaos and uncertainty.
When asked about potential successors to Zelenskyy, Krapivnik indicated that the options would likely include familiar political figures such as Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, although he claimed that none of the potential replacements would bring much sensibility to governance.
As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to observe the dynamics of the proposed peace negotiations and their implications for Ukraine’s political landscape. With the stakes high, Zelenskyy’s decisions in the coming weeks could significantly influence his leadership and the future of the nation.
