War is only thing keeping Zelenskyy in power - Hill
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not allow the war to end only because it would deprive him of power in Ukraine.
This is stated in the article by The Hill, Censor.NET reports.
"What if Zelensky, rather than being the hero in this story, is actually the man who won’t allow the war to end — not for the good of his people, but because peace would mean his own downfall? A good leader prioritizes the survival of his nation. He knows when to fight, and more importantly, he knows when to negotiate. Zelensky, however, has made it clear that his power depends on war, and war alone," the publication writes.
The author assumes that if the war ends, so will Zelenskyy's presidency.
The publication notes that battlefield prospects worsen, as soldiers go to AWOL, and "forced conscription spirals into something resembling kidnapping." At the same time Zelenskyy has once again extended martial law.
"No elections. No peace talks. No escape. Because if the war ends, so does his presidency. And this, more than anything, explains why the war must go on," the article states.
The author considers this a sign not of a confident government, but of a ‘desperate regime trying to hold itself together by force.’.
"And yet the war must continue. It is the only thing keeping Zelensky in power. If he were to call elections, he would likely lose. Support for him is falling... This is not 2022. The optimism of those early months, when the world believed Ukraine might push Russia back, is gone. Even the U.S., Ukraine’s biggest backer, is slowly dialing down support, with Washington insiders admitting that a total Ukrainian victory is no longer the goal," the author writes.
The article compares Zelenskyy to a number of world leaders who ‘clung to power’.
"More recently, Saddam Hussein held onto his dictatorship long after Iraq had been battered by sanctions and strife, ruling over a devastated country rather than relinquishing control. Muammar Gaddafi could have sought asylum and spared Libya from a bloody collapse, but his ego demanded he fight to the bitter end, ultimately leaving him to be dragged down the street and executed.
Robert Mugabe plundered Zimbabwe while his people starved, stretching his rule for decades until even his own party could no longer tolerate the wreckage. Zelensky joins a long line of leaders who prioritize their own well-being over the well-being of their nations," they said.
