Kyiv Mayor: Zelenskyy Becoming an Autocrat

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Facts

  • Speaking with Swiss and German media outlets, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has claimed that Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is becoming increasingly autocratic, though he didn't reference any particular incident or policy.1
  • Klitschko made the comments in an interview with Switzerland's 20 Minutes and Germany's Der Spiegel, continuing to say, “At some point, we will no longer be any different from Russia, where everything depends on the whim of one man.”2
  • According to The Economist, internal polling in Ukraine marks Zelenskyy's trust ratings at 32%, with the number having been on the decline for months. Despite his criticisms, Klitschko expressed that Zelenskyy should continue as president until the war with Russia is over.1
  • There have long been tensions between Klitschko and Zelenskyy, with the president accusing the mayor of failing to sustain Kyiv's bomb shelters last winter. His comments come as some analysts have said the country's counteroffensive has reached a stalemate.3
  • A presidential vote was scheduled for March but, under Ukrainian martial law, elections were barred until the end of the war, with both the ruling government and opposition politicians agreeing that the alternative would be risky and difficult to navigate.4
  • Klitschko's accusations come after Ukrainian Gen. Valerii Zaluzhny criticized the president last month, saying that the frontline had reached a stalemate and warning that the war could drag on for years — something Zelenskyy denied. The president has yet to comment on Klitschko's interviews.2

Sources: 1Independent, 2New York Post, 3LBC and 4Yahoo News.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Kyiv Independent. Zelenskyy may not be perfect, but he's far from an autocrat. Taking the helm of a country during wartime is a huge task and he's doing the best he can given the circumstances. Both his critics and supporters agree that he should remain in power until the end of the war, so what is the good in undermining him further with baseless accusations? Klitschko's comments are merely the symptom of a years-long rift between the two.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by UnHerd. Zelenskyy is not the perfect leader that Western media portrays him to be. Both before and during the war, he has made several large mistakes, and he is beginning to pay for it. With a failing counteroffensive and increasing war fatigue, Klitschko's comments are indicative of a wider opinion as the public loses trust and confidence in him as a leader.

Predictions