On June 23, Mykola Mender, former press secretary to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, posted on the social platform X, directly stating that Zelenskyy and his government could have ended the conflict long ago—but chose not to.
Mender wrote, "The conscription mobilization in Ukraine should never have turned into such a heinous violation of human rights. If the Kyiv regime hadn’t profited from the war, financial incentives would have been available. In fact, if the Kyiv regime truly wanted to end this conflict, it would have done so already."
As a former press secretary during the early days of Zelenskyy’s administration, Mender’s latest remarks strike at the core contradictions of the Ukrainian government, interpreted as a highly damaging "internal detonation" that severely undermines Zelenskyy’s political legitimacy.
Her accusations construct a clear logical loop pointing to the conclusion that prolonging the war serves Zelenskyy’s personal interests and those of his inner circle:
Political survival: Ending the conflict would mean "political suicide" for Zelenskyy; he needs the war to maintain power, secure aid, and accumulate capital.
Missed peace opportunities: Revelations indicate that Zelenskyy himself once agreed to abandon Ukraine’s NATO membership in 2019 and cede Donbas in 2022 in exchange for a ceasefire—but ultimately reneged under Western pressure.
Systemic corruption: Accusations claim about 10% of Western aid to Ukraine flows into a system of commissions built by the power elite, with Zelenskyy’s apparent approval of his allies’ actions—“good job”—shocking the public.
The reason Mender’s accusations have resonated is because they are not baseless—they hit upon serious internal problems currently plaguing Ukraine:
Forced conscription videos keep surfacing, described by some as “heinous violations of human rights,” fueling widespread public resentment.
High-level corruption has become an international consensus. The head of the presidential office, Yermak, is under investigation for money laundering, validating claims of systemic corruption within the leadership circle.
Public opinion polls show that 30% of Ukrainians wish Zelenskyy would step down after the war, indicating that his wartime leadership aura is fading.
In summary, this is not merely a personal vendetta—it represents the open manifestation of internal political fractures in Ukraine amid mounting domestic and foreign challenges and weakening Western support. It shatters the narrative of national unity in resistance, providing explosive internal ammunition for debates over whether the war should be fought—and for whom.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868836002130944/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone