Ukraine’s president is under growing pressure. Here are 5 things to know

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Faces Multiple Crises Amid War and Corruption Scandal

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is confronting a series of mounting challenges that threaten to undermine his leadership of Ukraine as the Russian invasion approaches its four-year mark. A high-profile corruption scandal, diplomatic pressures, and relentless Russian military advances have created a perfect storm of crises for the embattled leader.

The $100 million corruption scandal that erupted last week has sent shockwaves through Ukraine’s political establishment. Investigators revealed that funds were embezzled from the energy sector through kickbacks paid by contractors, leading Zelenskyy to dismiss two senior officials and impose sanctions on several associates. Among those implicated is Tymur Mindich, a business partner in a media production company that Zelenskyy co-owned before assuming the presidency. Mindich has reportedly fled the country.

The scandal has triggered rebellion within Zelenskyy’s own Servant of the People party, with lawmakers and activists demanding the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak. Though neither Zelenskyy nor Yermak has been accused of wrongdoing by investigators, critics argue that Yermak’s significant influence over government appointments and political decisions warrants accountability to help restore public trust.

“The management style of Zelenskyy is not working,” said Mykola Davidiuk, an independent political analyst. He noted that many of Zelenskyy’s allies privately acknowledge the need for change, particularly regarding the concentration of power in Yermak’s hands.

Compounding these domestic troubles, the United States has reportedly developed a peace proposal with Russia that would require significant concessions from Ukraine. According to sources familiar with the plan, Ukraine would be expected to cede territory to Russia, including the entire eastern Donbas region—part of which remains under Ukrainian control—and surrender certain weapons systems. The proposal would also roll back some crucial U.S. military assistance.

The timing of this diplomatic initiative has raised concerns among Ukraine’s supporters. “Zelenskyy is vulnerable. Both the U.S. and Russia saw the domestic scandal and decided to put more pressure on him to concede to a Russian plan,” observed Orysia Lutsevych, a Ukraine expert at Chatham House. However, she noted that European allies have begun to speak out against the proposal, potentially complicating its implementation.

While these political and diplomatic crises unfold, the situation on the battlefield continues to deteriorate. Russian forces are making slow but steady advances across multiple sectors of the front line. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, they are pushing toward the cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, which Ukraine recaptured during the first year of the war. The fiercest fighting is centered around the besieged city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub in the eastern Donetsk region.

Adding to Ukraine’s difficulties, Russian attacks on power infrastructure have intensified as winter approaches. November’s strikes on power plants have caused some of the worst electricity shortages since the war began, with many regions experiencing prolonged blackouts as temperatures drop.

Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy’s hold on power remains secure for now. Martial law, imposed following Russia’s invasion, has indefinitely postponed both presidential and parliamentary elections that would normally have been held in spring 2024. Unless he voluntarily steps down, Zelenskyy is likely to remain in office for the duration of the conflict.

No elected opposition figure currently poses a viable threat to Zelenskyy’s leadership. Former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who led several successful counteroffensives before being dismissed by Zelenskyy in late 2023, has been mentioned as a potential future challenger. Though Zaluzhnyi, now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, denies any political ambitions, polls show him as competitive with Zelenskyy, fueling speculation about his post-war political prospects.

How Zelenskyy navigates these interconnected crises in the coming weeks will be crucial not only for his political future but also for Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russian aggression and its standing with international allies.