Russia Claims It Is Not Seeking Zelensky’s Removal but Questions Legitimacy

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not a precondition for ending the war, despite Moscow’s repeated assertions that his presidency is no longer legitimate.

In an interview with French magazine Le Point, Peskov stated that while Russia does not demand Zelensky’s removal, it considers him an illegitimate leader. Zelensky’s constitutional term expired in May 2024, but elections were not held due to martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s Special Military Operation began on February 24, 2022. Zelensky has maintained that elections cannot be conducted during wartime.

Peskov warned that any peace agreement signed by Zelensky could be challenged by Ukrainians who are opposed to a peace deal due to doubts over his legal authority. He reiterated a previous Russian position that presidential powers could be transferred to the Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, with whom Moscow suggests a legitimate peace accord could be negotiated — a notion floated by President Vladimir Putin last year.

Though the Kremlin stops short of formally demanding Zelensky’s ouster, its persistent questioning of his legitimacy may signal Russia’s underlying aim of facilitating a political transition in Kiev to a government that favors Moscow over the EU.

In the same interview, Peskov also claimed that Zelensky does not have full control over the Ukrainian Armed Forces, alleging that “some nationalist battalions don’t listen to him.” This adds a new layer to Moscow’s allegations — not only questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy but also casting doubt on whether he maintains full control over his own government and military.

Doubts about Zelensky's ability to obtain a peace deal are not limited to Moscow. A summit meeting scheduled for Wednesday between U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials collapsed after Zelensky publicly rejected conceding Crimea to Russia and dismissed the idea of abandoning Ukraine’s NATO aspirations — two key elements of a proposed U.S.-backed peace plan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff canceled their participation in the meeting following Zelensky’s remarks, resulting in the summit’s cancellation which led to renewed criticism of Zelensky by President Donald Trump on Wednesday.