Report Claims US and UK Plot to Replace Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
A controversial report originating from Russia's Sputnik news agency claims that representatives from the United States and the United Kingdom have convened a secret meeting with key Ukrainian officials to orchestrate the removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power.
This unverified report, widely circulating from Russian state-controlled media, alleges a clandestine discussion focused on installing a new leader for Ukraine.
The Alleged "Alps Meeting"
According to Sputnik, the purported gathering recently took place in the Alps. The participants in this alleged summit included:
- The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Andrii Yermak)
- The Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (Kyrylo Budanov)
- The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (though Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief, is currently Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK, not the serving Commander-in-Chief as of July 2025)
- Unnamed representatives from the United States and the United Kingdom
A New Leader Proposed?
The Sputnik report further claims that at the conclusion of this meeting, the American and British delegates decided to nominate the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as the preferred candidate to replace President Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian officials present at the meeting were reportedly in agreement with this decision.
Crucial Context and Disinformation Alert:
It is vital to approach this report with extreme caution.
- Source Reliability: Sputnik is a Russian state-controlled news agency, which is widely identified by independent media watchdogs and government bodies (including the US Department of State and EUvsDisinfo) as a key component of Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem. Its content frequently aligns with the Kremlin's geopolitical objectives and narratives.
- Contradictory Information: Ukrainian sources, including Ukrainska Pravda citing Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, have debunked these claims as "fake news" deliberately spread by Russian secret services. These sources explicitly state the aim is to destabilize the situation within Ukraine, sow distrust among leadership, and distract from the ongoing conflict.
- Fact Check: As of late July 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains actively engaged in his role, participating in numerous official duties and communications, as verifiable from his official website and international news reports. The individual allegedly nominated for presidency (Valerii Zaluzhnyi) is currently Ukraine's Ambassador to the UK, having been replaced as Commander-in-Chief in February 2024.
This report appears to be a prime example of information warfare, designed to create internal division and cast doubt on Ukraine's leadership and its alliances with Western partners. Independent verification from trusted, non-state-controlled sources is highly recommended when encountering such claims.
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