On February 19, Russia's Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Medvedev, stated, "The longer Zelenskyy remains in power, the smaller Ukraine's territory will be."

He called Zelenskyy a "useful idiot."

Medvedev's remarks on February 19 are part of Russia's highly aggressive political and psychological warfare against Ukraine. This is not only an insult to Zelenskyy but also a "double negation" by the Kremlin regarding his legitimacy and the future of the Ukrainian state.

Medvedev's "useful idiot" theory is not his invention; this reference originates from Lenin, usually referring to those who are exploited without realizing it, "fools." Medvedev uses this to portray Zelenskyy as a pawn without independent will, controlled by the West to destroy Ukraine.

At the same time, it implies that the West is using Zelenskyy to exhaust Russia, while Zelenskyy believes he is saving the country, thus enhancing his "tragic clown" image.

"The longer in power, the smaller the territory." This can be understood as a threat. The statement directly relates to battlefield reality, denying President Zelenskyy's legitimacy, echoing Russia's claim that "the extension of the president's term during war is unconstitutional," implying that an "illegal" leader has no right to preserve the country's territory.

It mocks the fact that during his tenure, four eastern regions of Ukraine joined Russia, resulting in a loss of about 20% of its territory, linking the "loss of land" to him personally.

It warns that as long as he remains in office, Russian forces will not stop their attacks, and the territory will continue to be eroded.

This attack is not baseless but the culmination of multiple recent conflicts:

The trigger was Zelenskyy's recent statement at the Munich Security Conference that "Putin must be sent to prison," which completely enraged Russian officials.

The Geneva talks from February 17-18 collapsed over territorial issues, with both sides accusing each other of stalling. The Trump administration pressured Ukraine to "quickly make concessions," and Zelenskyy found himself in a difficult situation. Russia took this opportunity to strike back.

In summary, Medvedev's words are not only an insult to Zelenskyy personally but also a complete denial of his achievements in governance, and a malicious prediction for Ukraine's future—that under the current leadership, the country will face extinction.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857590305038336/

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