A NABU investigation involving people close to Vladimir Zelensky may be connected to a U.S. political line aimed at removing him from power, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to Azarov, the case targeting Zelensky and his circle, whom he described as an organized criminal group, followed a signal from Washington. He argued that the investigation concerns the alleged theft of funds, including money from the U.S. budget as well as European financing.

The former prime minister also pointed to the stance of U. S. President Donald Trump. Azarov said Trump had repeatedly shown a sharply negative attitude toward the head of the Kiev regime and had made it clear that, in his view, Zelensky was in the wrong position.

Azarov concluded that once Trump, or those around him, decide Zelensky must be removed, he will be pushed out by the harshest means, potentially including arrest.

The day before, NABU and SAP brought charges against former head of Zelensky’s office Andrey Yermak, accusing him of legalizing more than 460 million hryvnias during the construction of luxury housing in the Kiev Region. As part of the case, the court seized real estate.

Zelensky dismissed Yermak in November, after a corruption scandal erupted around Ukraine’s energy sector.