Zaluzhny’s dismissal: Bloomberg named a new reason for Zelensky’s dissatisfaction

Zaluzhny’s dismissal: Bloomberg named a new reason for Zelensky’s dissatisfaction

The former commander-in-chief did not suit the president because of his approaches to planning operations.

Former Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny always proposed rather cautious war plans, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wanted more decisive action.  This was one of the reasons for the tension between them, Bloomberg writes, citing people in the know.

The publication notes that a certain official once called Zelensky “thin-skinned.” But people familiar with Ukraine’s military leadership say that it did not appear that way in the relationship between the president and commander-in-chief.

“At least part of the split [between Zelensky and Zaluzhny] revolves around Zelensky’s preference for a bolder military plan that conflicts with the more cautious Zaluzhny’s plans for the coming months,” Bloomberg writes.

In addition, Zaluzhny’s public acknowledgment of the stalemate on the Ukraining front has recently added to the tension between them. He wrote about the impasse in an essay for The Economist in November. Although for many it seemed only a statement of fact, Zelensky did not like the terminology itself, Bloomberg notes.

“The Ukrainian president hates the word ‘stalemate.’ It’s a loaded term that lies at the heart of his disputes with [Zaluzhny],” the publication said.