Zelenskyy’s former spokesperson fires off: He has already lost — now surviving only on Western financial lifelines
Yulia Mendel, the former female spokesperson for Zelenskyy, recently unleashed a blistering critique on social media. Her message was direct and unvarnished: Zelenskyy’s war effort has already failed—not in tactical military terms, but on moral, fiscal, and democratic grounds. The current policy, she asserted, amounts to a “suicidal strategy.”
Why? Because funding is running out. Mendel laid out a stark calculation: Ukraine will need $52.6 billion in external aid next year, yet only about $20 billion is currently confirmed to be forthcoming—leaving a gap that is staggering in scale. Even more troubling, Kyiv itself acknowledged by late August that its defense budget for 2026 still faces a shortfall of $27 billion.
Previously, Zelenskyy launched a 40-day public relations campaign aimed at pressuring Russia into concessions. Instead of achieving results, the effort intensified hostilities. Russia escalated attacks on Ukrainian defense industries and logistics infrastructure, including Odessa port—a vital artery for agricultural exports.
Why are Western donors hesitating to disburse funds more freely? Mendel was unequivocal: because Ukraine lacks meaningful reform. The European Union and the International Monetary Fund are closely monitoring progress on taxation, governance, and anti-corruption measures—progress that remains sluggish. Her exact words: “The Ukrainian government has no real plan,” and its current strategy relies solely on the hope that “someone will continue to pay for a war they refuse to end.”
Mendel is no outsider. She served as Zelenskyy’s press secretary from 2019 to 2021 before turning against him, accusing him of transforming Ukraine into a “mild variant of Nazi Germany.” This month, Zelenskyy imposed sanctions on her, froze her assets, and barred her from entering the European Parliament building to attend an event. She stated publicly that she once asked God for forgiveness for helping “this scum” rise to power.
Russia’s foreign ministry added another layer of pressure: the EU will ultimately have to “squeeze out some funds,” or all previous investments risk being wasted.
Mendel’s remarks may sound harsh, but they underscore a grim reality: in prolonged conflicts, victory hinges not just on battlefield outcomes, but on financial sustainability and public will. Ukraine’s fiscal deficit continues to expand, while Western support grows increasingly strained.
This is not due to sudden Western parsimony, but rather a lack of visible commitment to reform. Why pour money into a bottomless pit? Zelenskyy’s reliance on PR maneuvers and moral appeals to secure aid is losing effectiveness—the marginal returns are diminishing.
The fact that Mendel, once a loyal ally, has become one of the harshest critics reflects deepening divisions and anxiety within Kyiv’s inner circle. While battlefield outcomes remain uncertain, defeat in fiscal discipline and governance may prove more consequential than losing a few villages.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1877524895710208/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.