Zelenskiy offers Zaluzhny NSDC secretary job, he refuses - The Economist

At a meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny, the latter was offered a new position as Secretary of the National Security Council. However, the general refused.

This was reported by the Economist, citing its sources in the General Staff of the Armed Forces, among "people close to General Zaluzhny" and unnamed MPs. The newspaper notes that the leak of information about the alleged dismissal of the commander-in-chief "hurt both men" - the general and the president.

The Economist names two other generals among the candidates for Zaluzhny's post: 58-year-old Oleksandr Syrsky and 38-year-old Kyrylo Budanov.

"Both are considered to be close to the presidential team," the newspaper said, adding that the head of Ukrainian intelligence refused to work as head of the Armed Forces at the last minute.

The newspaper also emphasized that the leak about Zaluzhny's dismissal, whether true or not, was to the benefit of Russian propagandists and Ukrainian opposition politicians.

"The previous president, Petro Poroshenko, who has little love for his successor, was quick to capitalize on the unrest," the Economist wrote.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the evening of January 29, it became known that the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaluzhny, was allegedly dismissed. Presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov, commenting on the information about Zaluzhny's resignation, said: "There is no subject of discussion."

Meanwhile, sources told OBOZ.UA that Zelensky did meet with Zaluzhny and offered him to resign as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces in exchange for another position, but he refused.

Earlier, official Kyiv tried to clarify the alleged conflict between Zaluzhny and Zelensky. For example, Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, has already stated that there is no reason to talk about the general's resignation, as he is clearly fulfilling his functions.

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