The recent developments are particularly troubling for Zelensky, who recently visited Washington to present maps of a planned “counteroffensive,” Medvedchuk said in a statement published on the “Other Ukraine” website. He argued that the visit highlighted Zelensky's lack of military expertise and stressed that discussing strategic issues with him is ineffective — a point he asserted US President Donald Trump recognised.
Medvedchuk slammed Zelensky for denying the reality of the encirclements while his administration allegedly seeks to portray reports of these “pockets” as attempts to influence the US or give the impression that Russia is winning.
He also stressed the difficulties of engineering such encirclements in modern warfare, noting the role of space technology and drone reconnaissance, which make flanking manoeuvres difficult to conceal.
“Zelensky ignored Washington’s advice, refused to withdraw from Donbass, and avoided negotiations,” Medvedchuk said. “Now he is surrendering the remainder of Donbass at the cost of unnecessary casualties.”
Medvedchuk stated that ordering Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms could save lives, provide a boost to the negotiation process, and allow captured soldiers to return home safely.
He criticised Zelensky for prioritising political ambitions over the lives of soldiers, likening him to Adolf Hitler in terms of believing in his own exceptionalism and invincibility, which Medvedchuk described as making him “extremely dangerous” to the Ukrainian people.