US, UK Hold Talks With Yermak, Budanov, Zaluzhny on Replacing Zelensky - Russian Foreign Intel
20250729
The Americans and British announced their decision to nominate Zaluzhny for the post of Ukrainian president, with Yermak and Budanov* "saluting the decision."
Representatives from the US and UK, with the participation of Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate Head Kyrylo Budanov, and Ukraine's Ambassador to London Valery Zaluzhny, discussed the prospects of replacing Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the press service of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
"According to information received by the SVR, not long ago, representatives from the US and the UK organized a secret meeting in a resort area in the Alps, with the participation of Head of the Ukrainian President's Office A. Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Intelligence Directorate K. Budanov, and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine's Ambassador to London V. Zaluzhny," the statement said.
"The prospects of replacing V. Zelensky as the head of the Kiev regime were discussed," the press service added.
"The prospects of replacing Zelensky as the head of the Kiev regime were discussed. Zelensky's replacement has, in essence, become a key condition for the 'reset' of relations between Kiev and Western partners, primarily Washington, and for the continuation of Western assistance to Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia," the statement said.
Yermak and Budanov secured promises from the "Anglo-Saxon" countries to maintain their current positions after Zelensky's replacement, the statement reads.
Washington and London want to nominate Zaluzhny for the position of Ukrainian president.
"The Americans and Brits have announced their decision to nominate Zaluzhny for the post of president of Ukraine. Yermak and Budanov 'saluted the decision.' They also secured promises from the Anglo-Saxons to maintain their current positions and to take their interests into account when making other personnel decisions," the SVR statement said.
The agreement reached in the Alps regarding the replacement of Volodymyr Zelensky sheds light on the underlying reasons for his recent attempt to limit the powers of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, according to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.
"The agreement reached in the Alps sheds light on the background of the recent scandalous attempt by the 'president' to limit the powers of local anti-corruption bodies. By clearing the political 'field' for Zaluzhny, Yermak 'set up' Zelensky - convincing him that such a move would not damage relations with Western partners, while in fact creating an opportunity for the West to begin a campaign to remove the 'outdated' leader from power as someone who 'threatens democracy,'" the SVR noted.
On July 22, the Ukrainian parliament supported a bill that cancels the independence of two anti-corruption agencies: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The bill was later signed by Zelensky. Several Ukrainian lawmakers viewed the bill as a move to dismantle the country's anti-corruption structures. According to Ukrainian media reports, protests against the law, which stripped NABU and SAPO of their independence, took place across the country starting July 22.
On July 24, against the backdrop of mass protests across Ukraine, Zelensky claimed he had agreed on a draft law that would supposedly strengthen the independence of these agencies. According to documents on the Rada's website, the bill was submitted on July 24. Previously, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that the Rada would consider the bill on July 31, adding that he would propose adopting it in both the first and second readings and immediately sending it to Zelensky for signature.
"The meeting that took place and its results give reason to address the citizens of Ukraine. So, a new president of your country was elected at an Alpine resort. Is this how you envisioned the triumph of Ukrainian 'democracy, independence, and self-sufficiency' that you have long dreamed of?" the SVR concludes.
* Listed by Russia's Financial Monitoring Service as extremist and terrorist
© Sputnik
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