Ukraine (Washington Insider Magazine)— On Saturday afternoon, Zelenskyy and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, were on the ministry’s wanted list for unrevealed criminal accusations. Russian officials did not immediately explain the claims against Zelensky and Poroshenko, however, an independent Russian news source Mediazona reported on Saturday that the two had been on the list for months.
While Zelensky’s addition to the list was confirmed, no specific details regarding the charges were provided. The move has raised concerns domestically and internationally, prompting speculation about Russia’s motives.
Targeting Zelensky: A Pattern of Hostility
Russia’s targeting of Zelensky is not the first of its kind, but rather part of rooted hostility toward Ukraine’s leadership. Zelensky has been a main target of Moscow’s ire since the start of Russia’s military campaign in February 2022.
Ukrainian Response
Kiev swiftly responded to Russia’s actions, considering them a manifestation of Moscow’s desperation in the current conflict. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the move, labeling it as a desperate plan by the Russian state and propaganda machinery.
ICC Arrest Warrant vs. Russian President Putin
In a sharp rebuttal, Ukrainian officials shed lights on the stark contrast between Russia’s conduct and the legality of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The warrant, issued for alleged war crimes, stands in blunt contrast to what Ukraine sees as Russia’s unsubstantiated allegations against Zelensky.
Pattern of Targeting Ukrainian Leaders
Zelensky is not the first Ukrainian leader to be targeted by Russia. Former President Petro Poroshenko, who served from 2014 to 2019, also found himself on Russia’s wanted list, further underscoring the strained relations between the two nations
According to Thebharatexpressnews, the Kremlin has always tried to link Ukraine’s leaders to Nazism, even though the country has a democratically elected Jewish president who lost family members in the Holocaust, and despite the goal of many Ukrainians to enhance the country’s democracy, corruption to push back and get closer to the West. .
As tensions between Ukraine and Russia rise, the targeting of President Zelensky exacerbates an already explosive scenario. Ukrainian officials quickly blasted the decision, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
