Zelensky U-turns after telling Ukraine’s top general he would be sacked

President keeps Valery Zaluzhny as commander-in-chief of armed forces under pressure from military top brass, amid rumours of growing rift
General Valery Zaluzhny has kept his job as the head of Ukraine’s armed forces after a U-turn by President Zelensky
General Valery Zaluzhny has kept his job as the head of Ukraine’s armed forces after a U-turn by President Zelensky
REUTERS

President Zelensky told the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces he was dismissing him, but was forced to reverse his decision after pressure from senior military commanders and international partners.

According to senior officers, General Valery Zaluzhny was summoned to a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky on Monday, where he told the president that his advisers’ assessments of the military situation were more positive than realistic. It was the first time that the pair had met without Zelensky’s advisers in a year and a half, one officer said.

He was then asked to resign, according to three sources. When he refused, Zelensky said that he would sign a decree dismissing him.

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Zaluzhny returned to his office and informed his