• The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claims that NATO is preparing to discredit and remove Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky through a smear campaign ahead of potential elections this fall.
• The SVR alleges that NATO plans to release damaging information about Zelensky, including embezzlement and misappropriation of funds and weapons.
• NATO is reportedly seeking to “freeze” the conflict by pushing both Russia and Ukraine toward negotiations, viewing Zelensky as an obstacle to these talks.
• The SVR’s claims come amid growing uncertainty over Western support for Ukraine and the return of Donald Trump to the White House, who has vowed to bring a swift end to the war.
• The allegations highlight a shift in NATO’s approach to the conflict, acknowledging Ukraine’s struggling military and focusing on finding a way to end the war, even if it means sidelining Zelensky.

As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its third year, Russian intelligence has revealed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is preparing to facilitate the removal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky through a smear campaign.

In a press release issued Monday, Feb. 3, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed Western officials view Zelensky as a hindrance to peace talks and are now plotting to discredit him ahead of potential elections this fall. These revelations underscore a growing acknowledgment within NATO that Ukraine is losing ground in the war and Zelensky’s leadership is increasingly seen as expendable.

According to the SVR, NATO is preparing to release damaging information about Zelensky and his inner circle, including allegations of embezzling over $1.5 billion in funds meant for military equipment purchases. The agency also claims that Zelensky’s administration has been involved in diverting salaries of 130,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers who remain listed as active service members, as well as illegally selling Western-supplied weapons to armed groups in Africa.

“Even NATO understands that Zelensky’s time is up,” the SVR stated, adding that Western officials privately refer to the Ukrainian leader as “expendable material.” The agency further claimed that NATO’s broader goal is to “freeze” the conflict by pushing both Moscow and Kyiv toward negotiations, but Zelensky’s refusal to engage in talks has made him a significant obstacle. (Related: Foreign Policy magazine: NATO is aware that Ukraine is LOSING the war.)

Zelensky, whose official term expired in May 2024, has remained in office under martial law, which was imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He has repeatedly rejected calls for elections, citing the ongoing war. However, the SVR alleges that NATO is now planning to hold “pseudo-democratic elections” in Ukraine no later than this fall, with the aim of replacing Zelensky with a leader more amenable to negotiations.

Is NATO preparing to end the conflict without Ukraine’s consent?

The SVR’s claims come amid growing uncertainty over Western support for Ukraine, particularly with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has vowed to bring a swift end to the war, a promise he made during his campaign.

The 47th U.S. president has threatened further sanctions on Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to peace talks. However, Trump’s administration has also signaled a desire for Ukraine to hold elections. “Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war,” said Keith Kellogg, U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Meanwhile, Zelensky has accused Russia of avoiding peace talks and reiterated his calls for Western security guarantees as a precondition for negotiations. In an interview with the Associated Press, he argued that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would be the “cheapest” option for the West to ensure such guarantees. However, Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kyiv’s neutrality and withdrawal from Russian-occupied territories are non-negotiable conditions for any settlement.

The SVR’s allegations highlight a shifting narrative in the conflict, with NATO reportedly acknowledging that Ukraine’s military is struggling to contain Russia’s offensive. “Brussels is proceeding from the fact that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will very soon be unable to contain the growing onslaught of the Russian army,” the agency stated. This admission, if accurate, marks a significant departure from earlier Western optimism about Ukraine’s ability to reclaim lost territory.

While neither NATO nor Ukrainian officials have responded to the SVR’s claims, the allegations reflect a broader debate over the future of the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged the grim reality of the conflict, stating, “We somehow led people to believe that Ukraine would be able to push Russia back to what the world looked like in 2012 or 2014 before the Russians took Crimea. And the result is a protracted stalemate in which human suffering continues.”

As the war drags on, the SVR’s claims suggest that NATO is increasingly focused on finding a way to end the conflict, even if it means sidelining Zelensky. Whether these allegations are accurate, or part of a Russian disinformation campaign remains unclear, but they underscore the high stakes and shifting dynamics in a war that shows no signs of abating. For now, Zelensky remains defiant, vowing to continue the fight despite mounting challenges and the reality of Ukraine’s diminishing prospects on the battlefield.

Watch Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico denouncing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “beggar and blackmailer” in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Top Ukrainian intelligence official warns that Ukraine could cease to exist if peace deal is not reached by summer.

Western powers seeking to replace Zelensky amid growing distrust in Ukraine.

Russian source: Elite Ukrainian military units mulling COUP against Zelensky.

Sources include:

RT.com

TASS.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com