In an interview with The Economist Last week, the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valerij Zalozhny, announced that the war was moving into a new phase. He described the stage as a stagnant war of attrition and that Russia could use this stage for military rebuilding.

These statements were not well received by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The fact that the war is at a stalemate is not consistent with what the Ukrainian president himself has said, and on Saturday, the deputy head of Zelensky’s administration, Ihor Zhovkva, disputed that comment.

He believes that military leaders should avoid making public statements about how things are going on the front.

– Because then we make the attacker’s task easier. I am sure that everything was read very carefully and conclusions were drawn,” Zovkva said at a press conference. Independent Kyiv.

According to Zovkva, the comment must also have sparked “panic” among Western allies who have contributed billions in support, he wrote. The New York Times.

– Not stuck

Zelensky himself on Saturday denied the claim that the war had reached a stalemate.

– It’s been a long time and people are tired. But this is not a dead end, I must stress that again.

The public criticism of General Zalozny came one day after the dismissal of one of his subordinates, Special Forces Commander Viktor Khorenko.

-Europe has its pants down

The United States is concerned

The public split between the Ukrainian president and the general comes at a time when Ukraine is fighting a military and diplomatic war, the New York Times reports.

Stop aid to Ukraine

nbc Biden administration officials are concerned about running out of troops in Ukraine, while Russia appears to have an endless supply, he wrote on Friday.

Ukraine depends on the support of its Western allies. In many of these countries, the conflict in the Middle East has become a major focus recently, and the desire to send more support to Ukraine has been met with increasing skepticism.

In the United States, for example, parts of the Republican Party have openly declared that they are skeptical of further American support for Ukraine.