LONDON (Realist English). Since his removal as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces in 2024 and subsequent appointment as ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi has widely been viewed as the most serious potential political challenger to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zaluzhnyi, 52, says he has no intention of discussing political ambitions while the war with Russia continues. However, in a recent interview with The Associated Press, he publicly described for the first time deep tensions between himself and Zelenskyy during the early stages of the conflict.
According to Zaluzhnyi, disagreements began shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and centered on military strategy. He alleged that the relationship deteriorated sharply later that year when agents from Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, arrived at his Kyiv office in what he described as an act of intimidation.
Ukraine’s Security Service denied conducting a search at Zaluzhnyi’s office, though it acknowledged that the address was linked to a separate investigation. The SBU said no search was carried out and that the matter was clarified after discussions between officials. Zelenskyy’s office declined to comment. The AP said it could not independently verify Zaluzhnyi’s account.
The revelation comes at a sensitive moment for Ukraine, as Russian forces continue gradual advances in the east and Washington increases pressure on both sides to negotiate. The war is approaching its fourth year.
Zaluzhnyi also revisited disagreements over Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive, which failed to achieve its strategic objectives. He said the original plan — developed with NATO input — called for concentrating forces to cut Russian supply lines to Crimea through the Zaporizhzhia region. Instead, he argued, troops were dispersed too widely, weakening the operation’s impact. Two Western defense officials, speaking anonymously, corroborated elements of his account.
Despite battlefield successes that boosted his public standing, Zelenskyy dismissed Zaluzhnyi as army chief in February 2024 and later appointed him ambassador to London — a move analysts widely interpreted as limiting his domestic political influence.
Recent polling suggests Zaluzhnyi holds a narrow lead over Zelenskyy in a hypothetical presidential race, with one Ipsos survey placing him at 23% support compared to Zelenskyy’s 20%. The president’s popularity has declined as the war has dragged on, compounded by corruption allegations involving senior officials and subsequent leadership reshuffles.
Zaluzhnyi insists he will not engage in politics while martial law remains in force. “Until the war is over or martial law ends, I am not discussing this and have done nothing toward that,” he said.
He acknowledged that political figures and consultants have approached him, including what he described as a “fairly well-known” American consultant in 2025. A source close to him identified the individual as Paul Manafort, though Zaluzhnyi said he declined any assistance.
While he maintains that his focus remains national unity, his public comments mark the clearest signal yet that Ukraine’s postwar political landscape may be shaped by unresolved tensions at the top of its wartime leadership.
