Putin Urges Ukrainian Generals to Oust Zelenskyy
Putin Calls on Ukrainian Generals to Overthrow Zelenskyy, Proposes Transitional Government
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Ukraine’s military leadership to depose President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and establish a “transitional administration,” claiming his army would “finish off” Ukrainian troops.
His remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with warming ties between Washington and Moscow emboldening the Kremlin more than three years into the war.
Speaking at an Arctic forum on Friday, March 28, Putin suggested discussions with the U.S., Europe, and Russia’s allies—under UN oversight—on forming a temporary government in Ukraine. He claimed such a move would lead to a “democratic presidential election” and the formation of a “competent government” to negotiate peace.
Putin’s comments reinforce his long-standing goal of installing a pro-Russian regime in Kyiv. Since launching the invasion in 2022, Moscow initially sought to overthrow Ukraine’s government in days but was repelled. Now, the Kremlin has increasingly questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, as his initial five-year term ended in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held during wartime, a stance supported even by Zelenskyy’s opposition.
Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s democratic credentials, labeling Zelenskyy—without evidence—a neo-Nazi and drug addict. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov justified Putin’s remarks by accusing Ukraine’s leadership of losing control over its military, particularly as Ukrainian forces allegedly target Russian energy sites.
Despite Kyiv’s claims of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Peskov insisted that Russia has adhered to a moratorium on targeting such facilities but warned that Moscow “reserves the right” to retaliate if Ukraine does not uphold it.
Putin Urges Ukrainian Generals to Oust Zelenskyy
