Many to question Zelensky's legitimacy 'very soon': Kremlin
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov conveyed his belief that Russia would prevail in the special military operation, noting that the evolving dynamics on the front indicated an inevitable outcome.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania during the Three Seas Initiative Summit and Business Forum in Vilnius, Thursday, April 11, 2024 (AP)
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday remarked that in the near future, many across the world, including people in Ukraine, are likely to raise doubts about the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, necessitating he will have to "justify himself".
"Very soon, the moment will come when many people, including in Ukraine, will question his [Zelensky's] legitimacy. In any case, even from the legal point of view, it will have to be done. And he will have to justify himself somehow," Peskov told Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin.
When prompted to share his thoughts on the Ukrainian president's assessment of the recent arms supply to Kiev as empowering Ukrainians to defend themselves, the Kremlin spokesperson referred to Zelensky as the "specific president of the specific regime."
"Ukraine does not spare its own citizens. And this is a tragedy for the people, a tragedy for the country. First, they infected their country with all sorts of nationalist manifestations, and now they no longer shun anything: they do not hesitate to throw new thousands and thousands of people into the furnace of this war," Peskov added.
He further conveyed his belief that Russia would prevail in the special military operation, noting that the evolving dynamics on the front indicated an inevitable outcome.
Read more: Latest US aid package for Kiev could be the last: Lithuanian PM
The presidential election scheduled for March 31 in Ukraine was canceled due to the declaration of martial law and a general mobilization. Zelensky, who assumed office in May 2019, stated that the prevailing circumstances made it inappropriate to hold elections at that time.
The Ukrainian parliament passed a bill on mobilization on April 11 to replenish the depleted Ukrainian forces. Zelensky signed the bill into law on April 16, and it is due to come into effect on May 18.
The legislation mandates that individuals liable for military duty report to military commissions to update their registration information within a specified timeframe.
It also requires them to carry military identity cards during mobilization and present them when requested by relevant authorities.
Read more: US pressured Kiev to adopt new mobilization law: NYT
