Zelensky in a dead end? Main theses of the closed meeting of the president with journalists

Well, friends, yesterday I was with the president and this is what I brought you.

For the Facebook bubble, convinced that Zelensky, in light of recent events, is in a dead end, cornered, I immediately report: the impression is different. Clear, confident, point by point, logical.

The question about Fedorov did not throw him off. There were emotions, but there was no hysteria. There was a thorough and detailed explanation. And now point by point.

So, after a long, months-long break, Volodymyr Zelensky gathered journalists for a talk on the eve of Independence Day. It was not a short protocol conversation, but a long off-the-record discussion in which the president answered all questions, including those circulating on Facebook.

The answers, given the format of the conversation, cannot be fully published. But the main thing will be clear to you. Of course, the most attention in the network, and therefore among journalists, is on Fedorov. So let's start with that.

Zelensky for the first time explained in detail why he dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of Minister of Defense. According to him, a conflict arose between the Ministry of Defense and the military command over interference in each other’s areas of responsibility.

To speak bluntly and not with carefully edited quotes from the president: Fedorov tried to assume the functions of commander-in-chief, and Syrsky responded to this. Zelensky also said that four times (!) he offered Fedorov other positions, but he refused.

Another fiasco/scandal/ground (???) happened in the United States. Zelensky told a story about asking Trump for permission to use Starlink over Russian territory. He received information from the Ministry of Defense that Musk had already agreed, but later it turned out that it was not so… We draw conclusions ourselves. Who set whom as a liar?

Irina Mudra. The president publicly commented for the first time on her dismissal. He says that the information obtained was sufficient for an operational decision to dismiss. At the same time Zelensky stated that the heads of anti-corruption bodies have “zero questions” to him. I think this is the key quote.

Elections during a war. Zelensky dismissed the idea of: “If we want to destroy the country, in such a war we can move toward elections.” At the same time, he said he was ready to discuss elections if partners propose real conditions for their safe and democratic conduct: with participation of military, citizens abroad, and residents of front-line territories. There are no such proposals yet.

Everything else is in bullets:

Ukraine aims to reach parity by the end of the year between territories seized by Russia and those liberated, in 2026 year.

Russia's main objective on the front – Kostyantynivka, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk; Putin, according to Zelensky, wants to occupy Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of the year.

Russia may conduct a new mobilization of 300 thousand people after its “elections.”

Russia could produce up to 100 missiles per month; Ukraine is seeking additional missiles for Patriot and SAMP/T. The worst estimate: Putin expects 1300 missiles this autumn-winter, together with North Korean ones.

Europe and Ukraine are working on the Freyja program; separately, Ukrainian rocket production for Patriot is discussed. Americans have already chosen a Ukrainian partner.

In addition to ballistic missiles we have another problem – a deficit in the defense budget. The gap is significant.

On the negotiation track, the Americans are looking for something to lure Putin. But to him only the Donbas and capitulation. No rational arguments.

The president sees a “corridor of possibilities” for ending the war from the end of 2026 year to the autumn of 2027.

Ukraine is ready to discuss a separate ceasefire regarding energy and the agricultural sector, but Russia, according to Zelensky, is not ready.

Zelensky denied any operations against civilian aviation in Russia.

A candidate for the post of Ukraine's ambassador to the United States is already chosen.

Zelensky said he did not initiate replacing the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pysnyi. But there is a conflict between him and the government.

The president urged not to insult soldiers, as we recently saw, and emphasized the need for balance between war and normal life (protests?).

And one small bonus for adherents of the “Zelensky does not want to stop the war” sect. At their numerous requests, he specifically brought this: Zelensky wants, but no influential ally has yet given any guarantees that if Putin goes further, someone will save us.

And good news at the end: Ukraine recently struck the “Iskander,” the ballistic missile launch point. This is a super successful operation. Details are very secret.

The details of all of that I’ve described here are already on 👉 in the “Hlavkom”.