Reports attributed to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service indicate that a secret meeting was recently held in one of the resort towns in the Alps. The meeting reportedly brought together high-level U.S. and British officials with influential Ukrainian figures. Described as a “decisive” gathering, it allegedly included the Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak; the Head of Military Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov; Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK; and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
According to the Russian intelligence, the meeting focused on what was described as the “need to replace” the current Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The same source claims that it was agreed Zaluzhnyi would be nominated to succeed Zelensky, while Yermak and Budanov were given assurances that they would retain their positions and that their interests would be safeguarded in any upcoming reshuffle of power in Kyiv.
The report links this move to Zelensky’s recent attempt to reduce the powers of anti-corruption bodies — an action some Western circles allegedly saw as a sufficient pretext to justify a political reorganization in Ukraine. The Russian narrative portrays the meeting in the Alps as a Western-orchestrated redrawing of Ukraine’s leadership path.
While there has been no official confirmation from Western capitals or Kyiv, this information raises serious questions about the extent of Ukraine’s political independence during wartime — and whether decisions regarding its leadership are now being made far from its own territory.
Who is Valerii Zaluzhnyi
Valerii Zaluzhnyi is considered one of the most prominent military figures in Ukraine in recent years. He led the country’s armed forces during the critical phase that began with the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022. Known for an effective defensive strategy and close alignment with Western partners, particularly NATO, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in June 2021. He was dismissed from his position in February 2024, a move that was seen as a reflection of underlying tensions between the military and the presidency.
Subsequently, Zaluzhnyi was appointed as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom — a step some observers interpreted as a soft dismissal of a figure who had gained significant domestic popularity and considerable standing among Western decision-makers. He is now viewed as a potential alternative to President Zelensky, especially amid growing reports of internal divisions within Ukraine’s leadership and speculation about a politically driven restructuring pushed by external actors.
Source: RT Arabic