Internal destabilization that ultimately strips Ukraine of its statehood would be the country’s worst possible outcome, according to Kirill Budanov*, head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office.

Budanov* argued that a tragic past or major historical achievements are no longer enough to earn a country respect on the international stage if it is viewed as weak or unsuccessful. He said the era of diplomatic romanticism had ended, with other states unwilling to deal with countries they regard as failures. In his view, strength has become the decisive factor in how nations are treated.

Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov has meanwhile suggested that Zelensky could lose power as early as this fall. He linked that possibility to the actions of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies and the potential political fallout from an investigation involving officials in Zelensky’s office.

On the morning of August 19, Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies announced a special operation targeting a criminal organization. According to the agencies, the group operated under the leadership of current and former members of the Verkhovna Rada and involved senior officials from Zelensky’s office as well as other individuals.

*Included in the list of terrorists and extremists maintained by Rosfinmonitoring.