Ukraine’s 45-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky fired his 57-year-old Defense Minister Oleksy Reznicov, saying he needed “new approaches” to the four-month old counteroffensive that has made very little progress in advancing Ukrainian troops into Russian occupied territory. Zelensky has been promising to oust all Russia soldiers from Ukraine by year’s end, something that proved highly unrealistic, something that’s beginning to take a toll on Western backing. Firing Reznikov is no guarantee that anything will change or get better has Ukraine tries to break through heavily fortified Russian lines to accomplish the goal of driving Russian troops out of Ukraine. Zelensky’s decision to fire Resnikov was rumored for months due to a lack of progress in meeting Zelensky’s overly optimistic promises. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Zelensky to settle the war.
Zelensky refuses to settle the war wit the Kremlin, unless Putin removes all his forces from Ukraine, agrees to pay war reparations and arrest Putin for war crimes. Zelensky’s conditions for peace guarantee perpetual war in Ukraine, unless Zelensky takes the war to Moscow, something prohibited by U.S. and NATO rules of engagement. So, when it comes to meeting military objectives, Zelensky bit off more than he could chew, taking on the Russian Federation. President Joe Biden, 80, has committed to supplying U.S. cash-and-weapons “as long as it takes” to defeat the Russian Federation, a shared pipe dream with Zelensky. “Olekksy Reznikov has been through more that 550 days of full-scale war,” blaming the change on war fatigue. Zelensky made Resznikov’s life more stressful by promising more than the Ukrainian military could deliver against the Russian army.
Zelensky nomiangtes Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar, head of Ukraine’s Property Fund, to replace Reznivo, making zero sense because on his lack of military experience. Then again, what military experience did Zelensky have since morphing from comedic actor to president of Ukraine? Zelensky’s foolish approach to taking on the Russian Federation has cost Ukraine dearly, losing countless lives, destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure, but, more importantly, losing 25% of Ukraine sovereign territory and most of Ukraine’s strategic ports. Zelensky’s counteroffensive promised to reclaim Ukraine sovereign territory but only after receiving billions in cash-and-arms from the U.S. and NATO. Firing Reznikov comes as Zelensky faces more Western criticism for how the war has gong over the last 18 months. Whether admitted to or not, Ukraine has sustained massive losses in fighting the Kremlin.
Shuffling around his defense minister doesn’t change the overall mission of expelling Russian troops from Ukraine. Since Russian troops were dug into Ukraine before the Feb. 24, 2022 start of the Russian invasion, it’s highly unlikely that Zelensky can achieve his mission without years of fighting, something U.S. and NATO aren’t prepared to do. Biden faces his own reelection in 2024, with former President Donald Trump saying he would end the conflict before he takes office. Zelensky has rejected Trump’s approach to the war, forcing Ukraine to the peace table to end the conflict. Trump would cut Ukraine’s cash-and-arms, forcing Ukraine to go it on their own and face even wider defeat. Zelensky acts like only Kiev has a right to determine when the war ends because it’s fought on Ukrainian territory. Zelensky knows he would lose to Kremlin without U.S. and NATO support.
No one in the U.S. and NATO wants to commit troops to the Ukraine War, fearing a wider escalation. Zelensky has said that WW III has already come to Ukraine, not realizing that he has no right to suck the European Union into his border dispute with Russia. Zelensky tells the U.S. Congress and European Parliament that Ukraine fights its war with Russia to save European democracy. Biden has also made the same foolish argument, knowing that NATO, not bankrupt and war-torn Ukraine, protect European democracy. “Everyone is now and expert on how we should fight,” said Ukraine’s defense ministry under Reznikov. “A gentle reminder that no one understands this war better that we do,” rejecting outside criticism on the slow progress. U.S. and NATO officials have gone along with Zelensky’s overly rosy predictions, now realizing the war won’t end anytime soon.
Firing Reznikov represents failure by Zelensky to convince U.S. and NATO backers that that the war has gone according to plan. Zelensky is ultimately responsible for a failed military strategy that’s caused unnecessary damage to Ukraine, its people and its future. Changing defense minister makes a bad situation worse by placating Western critics. Instead of firing Reznikov, the Ukrainian parliament should fire Zelensky for his gross miscalculation of the Ukraine military and civilian population. Putin offered Zelensky as way out in March 2022 but Zelensky opted for billions in U.S. and NATO aid over peace talks. Putin offered to settle the conflict but Zelensky chose to fight. Firing Reznikov only changes the window dressing but does nothing to speed up the conflict only buy more time. If Biden loses the election, Zelensky will likely face a significant change in U.S.-Ukraine policy.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
