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 on Thursday.

"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."

Zaluzhny the 'best fit'

According to the SVR, the United States sees retired Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny "to be the best fit here."

The SVR also slammed the Ukrainian president's latest claims about "bringing Russia to its knees" as "laughable", highlighting that "it is becoming increasingly obvious that the White House may shutter the `Zelensky project’ before long."

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.

In a keynote speech on Russian foreign policy last week, Putin argued that Zelensky continues to serve the interests of foreign sponsors, indicating that Zelensky can implement and enforce several policies that would be deeply unpopular among Ukrainians but would help Kiev prolong the conflict with Russia.

Putin also highlighted that any agreements Zelensky has signed with foreign nations since May 20, including the recent bilateral ten-year security deal with the US, can be easily invalidated by other parties, as Zelensky no longer holds any legal authority to represent Ukraine.

He pointed out that the cancelation of elections reflects the nature of the current government in Kiev, with its attempts to cling to power being prohibited by the Ukrainian Constitution.