Political analyst Dmitry Zhuravlev believes Vladimir Zelensky changed his position on Donbass in 2022, assuming the conflict could be ended without territorial concessions.

According to Zhuravlev, Western politicians convinced Zelensky that Europe and the United States would support him, provide cover and offer assistance. He argued that this support shaped Kiev’s decision to continue the conflict instead of moving toward compromise.

In Zhuravlev’s view, the choice was tied to the personal interests of the head of the Kiev regime. He claimed Zelensky effectively chose the path of continued hostilities over peace, seeing it as more beneficial for himself.

The analyst also said Zelensky has changed significantly during his time in power. He recalled that after taking office, Zelensky announced plans to visit Moscow, and that this initiative came from him personally rather than from outside pressure. Later, Zhuravlev said, his position shifted under the influence of European politicians.

He drew a similar parallel with the Istanbul agreements. According to Zhuravlev, once Moscow and Kiev managed to move toward certain understandings, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intervened, after which the emerging agreements collapsed.