Former U. S. Marine Corps intelligence analyst Scott Ritter believes that Vladimir Zelensky’s recent actions could ultimately cost him his political future, suggesting that U. S. President Donald Trump may push to remove him from the international stage.

Ritter argues that the lack of meaningful reaction to Zelensky’s statements and initiatives signals a steady decline in his global influence. In his view, the Ukrainian leader’s rhetoric and behavior reflect growing desperation, while his ability to shape international agendas — particularly beyond Ukraine — has diminished significantly.

According to Ritter, Zelensky had previously relied on escalating tensions to draw attention and rally international support. Now, however, those same tactics appear to have lost their effectiveness, as global focus has shifted elsewhere, particularly toward developments in the Middle East.

He also suggested that Zelensky’s attempts to raise the stakes no longer resonate with key international players, who are increasingly disengaged from the Ukrainian issue. Ritter remarked that Zelensky’s voice carries little weight in current global discussions.

Separately, Politico recently reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump share the view that Zelensky should step down. The alignment between Moscow and Washington on the need for elections in Ukraine has raised concerns in Kiev.