Zelenskyy hints at leadership change for “reset” in war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he’s considering the removal of Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi as commander-in-chief of Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy gave an interview to Italian broadcaster RAI TV on Sunday, saying “a new beginning is necessary” to win the war. He added that he’s considering replacing a series of leaders beyond the military. To win, Zelenskyy said, “We must all push in the same direction …We must have the right positive energy.” By noon Monday, the general had not directly commented on Zelenskyy’s interview. Zaluzhnyi shared a Facebook post wishing fellow Ukrainian Gen. Serhiy Shaptala a happy birthday and saying, “It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed.”

What do the Ukrainian people think about the potential shakeup? Zaluzhnyi is known as a national hero credited with slowing Russia’s advance at the beginning of the war. The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 92 percent of the public trust Zaluzhnyi. The institute also found that 72 percent of respondents would react negatively to the general’s dismissal.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on the European Union’s latest aid package to Ukraine.