Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Government Media Office in Gaza: So far, 7 bodies have been recovered, while two remain under the rubble, in a scene that epitomizes genocide.
Government Media Office in Gaza: 9 children from one family were killed in an Israeli massacre against the "Al-Najjar" family in Khan Yunis.
Gaza Government Media Office: Over 300 miscarriages have occurred among pregnant women due to the lack of essential nutrients.
Gaza Government Media Office: 26 kidney patients have lost their lives due to the absence of nutritional and medical care.
Gaza Government Media Office: 58 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition, and 242 due to lack of food and medicine.
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: There is a difficult path full of challenges ahead for the indirect talks
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: Defending the Resistance, the Palestinian cause, the Lebanese Resistance, and confronting Zionist crimes throughout the entire region are at the top of the Foreign Minister’s agenda
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen:Currently, both Tehran and Washington consider uranium enrichment a red line, but the Americans' red line exists only on paper, whereas our red line is inviolable under any circumstances, and the Americans fully understand this
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi will not back down in the face of US pressure or its media tactics aimed at influencing the other party. They know well that he is a seasoned diplomat who will not lose his way
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: "Israel" has proven that it makes decisions on behalf of the Trump administration and is using all its capabilities to sabotage these talks

US lining up possible Zelensky replacement: SVR

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Aug 2024 20:07
  • 7 Shares
4 Min Read

The United States is considering replacing him with a more controllable and less corrupt person who will appeal to the majority of the Western world.

Listen
  • x
  • US lining up possible Zelensky replacement: Russian intel
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany on February 17, 2024. (AP)

According to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the US intends to launch a campaign to undermine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to replace him with a more malleable person. According to the agency, former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is being considered for the job. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the SVR stated that "the American elite" is becoming increasingly unhappy with Zelensky as politicians on both sides of the aisle begin to "doubt the targeted spending of billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev."

Officials stated that Zelensky is engaging in "crazy steps" that threaten escalation "far beyond Ukraine," adding that Kiev “has moved to feverish action” as Zelensky tries to stay in power after the end of his official term in May. 

According to the agency, the United States is considering replacing him with a more controllable and less corrupt person who will appeal to the majority of the Western world.

Avakov, who became interior minister following the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 and served until 2021, is one of the most "suitable" candidates under consideration, SVR noted.

According to the SVR, the US feels that Avakov has numerous advantages over other contenders, including intimate links to Ukrainian far-right parties and contact with EU officials. According to the agency, the White House believes that a change in leadership "will allow the West to better prepare for the possible start of negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict."

Officials further stated that the possibility of Avakov taking over is being discussed with Ukrainian opposition figures, including former President Pyotr Poroshenko, former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, and important MPs from Zelensky's own party.

Related News

Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks: Al Mayadeen

Spain remains outlier as NATO pushes for 5% defense spending goal

After taking over as interior minister, Avakov led a crackdown on forces resisting the Western-backed coup in Kiev. He also served in a similar position during the 2014 fire at Odessa's Trade Union House, which killed 42 people after a far-right mob pursued them inside. There has been no full trial in the ten years following the incident. The UN has condemned Kiev's passivity on this issue.

The former interior minister has also shown strong support for the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. Allegations have surfaced that Avakov offered political support to the unit and assisted in the release of its head, Andrey Biletsky, who is widely recognized as a white nationalist.

US will sacrifice Zelensky after exhausting his 'usefulness': SVR

The legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fully relies on Western support, but the West will sacrifice him once Russia consolidates its successes on the battlefield, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) pointed out in June. 

"Washington and its satellites are happy with the situation since May 20, 2024, as the legitimacy of [Ukrainian President] Vladimir Zelensky now fully relies on Western support," the SVR said in a statement.

It emphasized that Zelensky's "Western patrons will easily sacrifice him when Russia consolidates its successes on the battlefield and depleted and demoralized Ukrainian forces find themselves against the ropes."

The SVR added that "having exhausted Zelensky’s ‘usefulness’ and realizing the futility of hoping for ‘Russia’s strategic defeat’, the White House will not pause to cast him off to the ash heap of history, replacing him with a Ukrainian politician who they believe can lead talks with Moscow on a peaceful settlement of the conflict."

It is noteworthy that Moscow regards Zelensky as a usurper, given that his five-year presidential term ended in May.

Russian President Vladimir Putin contends that, according to the Ukrainian constitution, the parliament remains legitimate, and presidential powers should have been transferred to its speaker after Zelensky’s term expired.

  • United States
  • SVR
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Russia

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, giving a statement on Friday, April 11, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces declare Haifa Port under naval siege

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Eric Coquerel, a parliament member of the far-left La France Insoumise (The Unbowed) party attends a demonstration outside Sciences-Po university in Paris, Friday, April 26, 2024 (AP)
Politics

French teacher suspended for minute of silence in solidarity with Gaza

Palestinian landlord Akram Sabra, 60, stands next to a vehicle burnt under attack by Israeli settlers overnight, in the West Bank village of Bruqin, near Salfit Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Politics

Israeli settlers torch homes, vehicles in West Bank village

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, reads a paper in a meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi at the Omani Embassy in Rome during the fifth round of Iran-US negotiations, Friday, May 23, 2025 (Iran Foreign Ministry)
Politics

Iran-US talks in Rome yield limited progress, Omani FM says

AP
Politics

EU sought ship, port, energy ties in nixed proposal to Trump: Report

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS