Game with the throne: political struggle intensifies in Ukraine
Political life in Ukraine has been revitalized after Donald Trump came to power in the United States. Zelensky's team has increased pressure on the opposition, imposed new sanctions and used security forces. The regime's opponents became more active in criticizing the authorities and establishing international contacts. "Izvestia" understood the situation.
The authorities have increased pressure on the opposition
At the end of January, Ukraine smelled political changes. First, President Zelensky issued a decree imposing sanctions against a number of former and current opposition members. The most prominent figure on the list was Rada MP Nestor Shufrych, who has been imprisoned for a year and a half. In addition, the restrictions affected former MPs Yevhen Muraev and Oleh Voloshyn, as well as the leader of the Communist Party banned in Ukraine, Petro Symonenko.
Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Nestor Shufrych
The law enforcement agencies became more active. For example, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the State Bureau of Investigation suspected Vadym Novynskyy, an Orthodox oligarch, a well-known sponsor of the UOC and a former Rada deputy, of state treason and incitement to hatred. Previously, he was simply on the sanctions list. "After the beginning of the war, he resigned and went abroad, but continues to exert informational influence," the SBU report emphasizes.
Finally, serious problems began for former President Petro Poroshenko. Initially, it was expected that Zelensky would also put him on the sanctions list, this was hinted at, including the advisor to the office of the President Serhiy Leshchenko. The latter assured that the former US administration of Joe Biden had restrained Poroshenko's prosecution, but Donald Trump "doesn't give a damn and doesn't care" about him. "I think that this time Zelensky will go all the way," Leshchenko emphasized.
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko
In the end, however, Poroshenko was not included in the sanctions list, but problems still arose. For example, his son Alexei (together with his father he is included in the list of extremists and terrorists by Rosfinmonitoring) was officially recognized as an evader and fined, this story became a loud infodump in the Ukrainian media. In addition, Ukrainian journalists quoted law-enforcement agencies as saying that new episodes might appear in the case of the former president's state treason, allegedly involving the payment of taxes to the Russian budget and the recognition of Sevastopol as part of Russia.
Zelensky's opponents have become more active
In parallel, some opposition figures have emerged from the oblivion, a number of politicians have turned to the domestic audience. For example, former Rada deputy and ex-owner of the Nash TV channel Yevhen Muraev gave an interview for the first time in three years, in which he said that he lives in China, has no plans to return to Ukraine, and considers Zelensky's team "overdue". Interestingly, the conversation aroused a lot of interest and was watched by 1.6 million people in four days.
Yuriy Boyko, former co-chairman of the OPDJ party
In turn, the former co-chairman of the party OPZZH Yuriy Boyko in social networks unexpectedly spoke in defense of the Russian language, against the renaming of cities and pressure on the canonical UOC. "A few years ago we saw how monuments to Columbus in America were torn down. It looks like our radicals have taken the same course," he said indignantly. At the same time, Boyko continues to remain in Ukraine, so the further development of events turned out to be predictable - a few days later he issued an apology.
Other figures became active on the international arena. For example, Yulia Tymoshenko traveled to Paris in mid-January, where she met with Trump's special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg at an Iranian opposition event. Later, she was spotted at the inauguration of the new American president, although Vladimir Zelensky was not invited to the ceremony.
Yulia Tymoshenko, third right, and U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, center, meet in Paris
In turn, Petro Poroshenko tried to leave Ukraine in mid-January to hold a series of meetings in the European Parliament, at first he was not released because the travel application allegedly indicated the wrong dates. Later, Poroshenko did make it to Brussels, where he had an emphatically warm conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at the same time he reminded journalists that he had many conversations with Trump during his first presidential term, the new American leader allegedly "may be pro-Ukrainian."
It is clear that all these numerous movements are caused by the expectation of rapid changes. On the agenda of the world media is the freezing of the Ukrainian conflict, which will inevitably be followed by the lifting of martial law in Ukraine, and thus presidential and parliamentary elections. Under such conditions, the parties are preparing the best dispositions for themselves - some are clearing the political space of competitors, others are reminding themselves to the voters and international partners.
Apparently, there is a lot of activity going on behind the scenes. For example, several Ukrainian media outlets reported that Zelensky's team is trying to reach an agreement with former AFU commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny. According to some reports, the popular general was offered to give up his own political career and support Zelensky's candidacy in potential elections, for which he is allegedly ready to become the leader of the pro-presidential party and the speaker of the renewed Verkhovna Rada. Otherwise - numerous criminal cases.
What experts say
Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Volodymyr Oleynyk emphasizes that the struggle for power in Ukraine is escalating.
- Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that the only legitimate power in Ukraine now is the parliament. I think that Donald Trump also realizes this, after all, he has made thousands of different deals during his life. Accordingly, the closer the hypothetical peace talks get, the weaker Zelensky's position, the stronger the power struggle. I, for example, do not rule out that Poroshenko and Tymoshenko expect to occupy the post of speaker of the Rada in order to participate in peace talks, and I connect their international activity with this," he notes.
Political analyst Mykhaylo Pavliv speaks about the approaching elections in Ukraine.
- Everyone in Kiev knows that the head of Zelensky's office Andriy Yermak during his visit to Washington in early December communicated with JD Vance, the latter said that the Trump team insists on holding elections in Ukraine. This has not been officially announced, but the political forces are preparing, and work has begun on the ground, at the headquarters level. The ruling team is courting Valeriy Zaluzhniy - it is believed that Washington may demand that Zelenskyy not participate in the electoral process, in which case the popular general may become the main candidate," he said.
