Vitali Klitschko claims 'Zelensky is on his way out': Former boxing champ says ... trends now
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is failing as a war leader and will soon be on his way out of the job, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has suggested.
Klitschko, a former top boxer and brother of heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, admitted in an interview with Swiss outlet '20 minuten' that Ukraine's counteroffensive had stalled and Zelensky is now 'paying for his mistakes'.
He said he was not surprised Zelensky's popularity has fallen compared to that of the army, judging 'people see who is effective and who is not. And there were and many expectations... People wonder why we weren't better prepared for this war.'
'The President has an important function today and we must support him until the end of the war. But at the end of this war, every politician will pay for his successes or failures,' he said, brushing off suggestions he would consider running for the role.
'It would be stupid to think about it today. Today the only question is whether Ukraine continues to exist at all,' he told the outlet.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-L) and Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi (C-R) visiting of Ukraine's army command post in Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, shared November 30
Rescues work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in the town of Novohrodivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine November 30
Ukrainian soldiers fire targets as Russia and Ukraine war continues in the direction of Avdiivka of Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on December 1, 2023
Vitaly Klitchko attends the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight world title fight between Russia's Oleg Maskaev and Uganda's Peter Okhello in Moscow December 10, 2006
Zelensky's popularity among Ukrainians remains significantly higher than it was in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. More than 50 per cent still strongly approve of their president's actions, according to polling by Statista.
Ukrainians are also more clear on their position; when Zelensky became President in 2019, nearly half said it was difficult to answer or had no answer. Today, two per cent give the same answer.
But support has become somewhat more divided over the last 18 months, with the number strongly approving falling from 74 per cent in early 2022 to 59 per cent by June and settling around 58 per cent by February this year.
Most of those now 'somewhat approve' of Zelensky's actions - with only three per cent strongly opposing his policy.
Zelensky has been open to admitting the large counteroffensive planned this spring had failed to meet its objectives.
On Friday, December 1, he said the plan had not achieved 'the desired results'.
Speaking in Kyiv, Mr Zelensky conceded Ukraine had 'wanted faster results'. Asked if he felt
