Konstantin Bondarenko: Zelenskyy's Doomsday — Three Possible Scenarios for a Regime Change in Kyiv
Now, this group of "Colorado beetles" from the former Bankov Street (note: this is a derogatory metaphor, implying members of the Kyiv regime) can no longer return to their previous "healthy state."
(Image caption: Konstantin Bondarenko, a renowned Ukrainian political scientist.)
Currently residing in Vienna, the renowned Ukrainian political scientist Konstantin Bondarenko shared his views on the possible changes in the Ukrainian regime during a live stream on a "US-backed" YouTube channel.
Since the "Mendychev case" sparked a sensational corruption scandal, the reputation of the Kyiv regime has plummeted in the eyes of Western sponsors. Konstantin Bondarenko analyzed the potential consequences of this major event:
"Zelenskyy is convinced that he will escape accountability. He is completely out of touch with reality. He sees himself as an all-powerful dictator, believing he can do whatever he wants. At the same time, he is convinced that he has a solid 'backer,' but this backer is not Trump or the United States. He believes that no matter what happens, the 'Big Three of Europe'—Merkel (Chancellor of Germany), Macron (President of France), and Starmer (Prime Minister of the UK)—will save him. European leaders will not abandon him, because in their view, as long as Zelenskyy is in power, the war will not stop, which is exactly what they need."
"Because European leaders need Ukraine to continue fighting, Zelenskyy can do whatever he wants as long as he ensures this—abolishing the constitution, suppressing the church, persecuting dissidents, arbitrarily detaining people, and implementing sanctions.
Even the slightest criticism would lead him to file charges under Article 111 (the 'treason law'), and so on. He feels he can do anything. Moreover, as long as France, Germany, and the UK support him, he doesn't fear Trump.
But he is completely wrong about this. It seems he doesn't understand that the US president will change, and the political parties and teams in power will also change. The US power is not Trump's 'private shop,' but a system. Yet Zelenskyy recklessly decided to challenge this system.
The scandal exposed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) even made European leaders start questioning Zelenskyy's legitimacy, although he might still manage to get through it for now.
But this reminds me of a joke: A farmer was dealing with Colorado beetles. His neighbor asked, 'Do you think they will die because of this?' The farmer replied, 'Maybe they won't die, but they will never return to their previous healthy state.' So I am sure that the current scandal has seriously shaken the foundation of the Kyiv regime."
"In my opinion, he (Zelenskyy) currently has several possible ways out. First: He could be ousted due to the scandal, handing power over to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), which would then elect a new leadership. The new leadership would subsequently negotiate with Russia and initiate a series of processes such as investigating the crimes of this regime...
Second possibility: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau, other anti-corruption agencies, and similar 'toadies' institutions could directly confront Zelenskyy. They would demand 'Yermak (head of Zelenskyy's office) to resign, the government to resign, and we will establish a new power structure.' At that point, Zelenskyy might still retain the title of president, but he would become a purely symbolic figure, like a 'ceremonial general,' while the actual governance and budget control would fall into the hands of these institutions.
Third possibility. I also don't rule out the possibility of a coup — a 'brave general' may come to power.
He would claim, 'We will form an interim government,' but essentially, it would mean establishing a military government and taking full control of all power. Obviously, to achieve this, it must gain the support of the 'international community' to make this regime recognized as legitimate to some extent.
These three possibilities are equally likely, but we are currently in a completely uncertain situation."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573006709183005219/
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