President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has reportedly informed the White House that he has decided to fire top military commander General Valery Zaluzhny.
Two people familiar with the discussion told the Washington Post that White House officials did not support or object to the decision, but instead said that it was Zelensky’s choice to do so.
Zelensky has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter or when it would occur.
The advance notice to the Biden White House gave officials the opportunity to urge Zelensky to reconsider the action and reflects the US’ position as an influential role in the matter.
According to the outlet, the removal of Zaluzhny could affect both troop morale as well as the confidence of donors in the West as the war in Ukraine nears its third year.
Zelensky, who has clashed with Zalushny over strategies for overcoming setbacks on the battlefield, has reportedly speculated privately that a new commander could "rejuvenate Kyiv’s fortunes," the outlet reported.
In a Monday meeting, the general argued that new recruits were needed to make gains on the battlefield against Russia, and that Ukraine needed to prepare for personnel losses at a similar level to last year.
Zelensky pushed back as Ukraine lacks the funds to pay the new conscripts without considerably raising taxes on the citizens.
“The president does not believe that this mass mobilization of men between the ages of 18 to 27 is desirable or warranted at this point,” said a person close to Zelensky.
A senior Ukrainian official said that during this meeting, Zelensky told Zaluzhny that he was being dismissed.
Zelensky’s spokesman, Serhiy Nykyforov, denied on Monday that the Ukrainian leader had fired Zaluzhny.
