Americans Are Eavesdropping on Conversation Participants: Zakharova

The U.S. may be eavesdropping on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, or receiving reports about their conversations. This assumption was expressed by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

She commented on a recent article published by The Washington Post, which discussed a conversation between the Ukrainian president and his chief committee, where Zaluzhnyi hinted to Zelensky that a quick improvement in the situation of the country's armed forces (the Armed Forces of Ukraine) was unlikely.

As Zakharova noted, there are several possibilities for how the newspaper could have obtained such information: “A. Witnesses to the conversation relay it to the Americans. B. Participants of the conversation share it with the Americans. C. The Americans are eavesdropping on the conversation participants,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

The Washington Post's material regarding the conversation between Zaluzhnyi and Zelensky was published against the backdrop of discussions regarding the possible resignation of the head of the Supreme Rada’s chief committee, as reported on January 29 by former Rada member Boryslav Bereza. Later that same day, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and the president's press secretary, Serhiy Nikiforov, denied this information; however, talk of Zaluzhnyi’s potential dismissal did not cease.

On January 31, The Times, citing its sources, reported that Zelensky had changed his mind about dismissing Zaluzhnyi, as two potential successors—Kyryl Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and Commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi—had declined to take up the position. At the same time, CNN reported that Zelensky's decree to dismiss Zaluzhnyi is expected by the end of this week.

During this time, Politico, citing anonymous Ukrainian officials, noted that the president's office fears a political confrontation with the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the publication, Zaluzhnyi has not yet decided to enter politics, but that decision is not final.