Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has claimed in a new statement published by TASS state news agency that US and British officials recently met with senior Ukrainian figures in an undisclosed Alpine resort in Europe to discuss the possible replacement of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The meeting allegedly included top Ukrainian officials such as Andrey Yermak, head of the presidential office; Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence; and Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief now serving as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK.
Given the high stature of these individuals, this is a massive claim, and it could be that Russian intelligence is is releasing such a report - even if unverified and/or possibly untrue - in order to sow discord, suspicion and paranoia within the Ukrainian presidency's office. But some recent independent reports in the West have also pointed to a key former top general being groomed as a potential successor.
