Is Ukraine's military leadership 'reshuffle' linked to preparations for deal with Russia?

According to RT news agency, Anatol Lieven - Director of the Europe-Russia program at the Quincy Institute in an interview with Responsible Statecraft said that the defense personnel changes in Ukraine and the political struggle surrounding the resignation of former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny are related to preparations for a future peace agreement with Russia.

“The current political turmoil in Kiev can be interpreted as the desire of various figures and interest groups to put themselves in a position to shift responsibility for the final agreement with Russia to others,” expert Anatol Lieven said.

According to this expert, the Ukrainian elite has "backed itself into a corner" and abandoning radicalism would be painful for the government. Therefore, the authorities are trying to shift the burden of responsibility for making the final decision to others.

“If Kiev takes too long to discuss what kind of deal it will make with Russia, it may have nothing left to offer in the deal,” said expert Anatol Lieven.

Former Colonel of the National Security Service of Ukraine Oleg Starikov said in an interview with Politeka channel that the dismissal of former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny raised big questions about the situation at the front.

“They see something in the military… They start thinking: ‘Oh, that means something is wrong,’” said Colonel Oleg Starikov.

In addition, according to Colonel Starikov, personnel changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine undermine the commanders' confidence in their superiors, and sound the alarm about problems in Kiev's strategy.

Previously, on February 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continued to announce changes in the military leadership, appointing two deputies to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky and three deputies to Chief of the General Staff Anatoli Barhylevych.

On February 8, President Zelensky appointed General Syrsky to replace General Valery Zaluzhny. This was a controversial decision and was considered by experts to be a "gamble" because General Zaluzhny has always been popular with the soldiers.

Then, on General Syrsky’s recommendation, President Zelensky appointed Mr. Barhylevych to replace Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Serhii Shaptala on February 9. Both Mr. Zaluzhny and Mr. Shaptala had led the Ukrainian military before Russia launched hostilities.