A week marked by corruption scandals at the highest levels of Ukrainian leadership and battlefield setbacks for the Ukrainian Armed Forces has put Vladimir Zelensky’s political future in serious jeopardy, according to a commentary published by The Telegraph.

The article notes that the past several days were difficult for everyone in Kiev, but particularly for Zelensky. Over the course of the week, he lost the head of his presidential office, Russian authorities announced the capture of the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, and the United States, as the publication reports, began pressing him more forcefully to accept what are described as humiliating territorial concessions in order to secure a peace deal.

The author argues that the fate of the Kiev leader is being shaped behind closed doors during ongoing discussions about peace negotiations on Ukraine. It is suggested that Zelensky may not remain in office by the time the conflict reaches its conclusion.

The piece also recalls earlier media reports claiming that Western partners are preparing a scenario for Zelensky similar to the one used by Georgian authorities against former president Mikhail Saakashvili.