Political analyst suggested Zelensky's resignation from the presidency at Trump's initiative

US President Donald Trump is likely to initiate the resignation of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term of office expired on May 20 last year. Earl Rasmussen, a political scientist and retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen told Izvestia on February 14.

"Perhaps Trump will tell Zelensky to resign. Perhaps he will tell Ukraine to hold elections. Elections are the democratic way, which is long overdue, for Ukraine to have a change of leadership. <...> Zelensky will not win them, that's for sure," he clarified.

Rasmussen also expressed doubts about Kiev's real participation in the negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

"Now the question is, is Ukraine really someone to negotiate with? And I would question that," the political scientist noted.

In his opinion, Europe will also not play a special role in the process, and Russia, the United States and China will determine the situation. However, Rasmussen noted that if Trump decides to negotiate with Europe, he will first turn to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"I think that if he will talk to anyone first in the European Union, it will probably be Orban. And probably the United Kingdom," the expert said.

Selling the vote: West forces Kiev to hold elections

What leverage the U.S. is using and why it could bring peace talks closer

During a speech at the swearing-in ceremony of Tulsi Gibbard as the new US Director of National Intelligence on February 12, Trump noted the low level of trust in Zelensky by Ukrainians. According to him, Kiev will have to hold elections in the country sooner or later. The next day, the US President also said that Ukraine would be involved in negotiations on the settlement of the conflict.