Zelensky is playing a double game.
Forecast: "Belarus. Lukashenko. Zelensky. Global Trends Summer 2026. Main" (published on June 24, 2026, link)
S. Dragan:
... Although Zelensky will even demonstrate a willingness to act (end of June - early July). But this will be a great trick. ... he will try to play a cunning double game, bluffing and seeking allies or those through whom he will expect to act...
In mid-July, Zelensky's "attempt to play a cunning double game" became especially evident on the domestic political stage.
On July 12, 2026, Zelensky announced his intention to change the government of Ukraine and send Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko into retirement. He also previewed changes in the leadership of Ukraine's law enforcement bodies.
According to Ukrainian political analysts, changing the government is a forced measure for Zelensky, who has to navigate between London and Washington, periodically appointing certain nominees from one side or the other.
At the same time, it is unclear to many political scientists for what merits and based on what qualities, less than a year ago, Sviridenko was appointed Prime Minister. As well as the objective reasons for her sudden resignation now.
The Sviridenko government was formed less than a year ago, still under Andrei Ermak, who is strictly supervised by MI-6 in London.
It is noted that after the closest ally of Zelensky, the head of his office, Andrei Ermak, resigned in November 2025 due to a corruption scandal, the Sviridenko government became a central element in the president's entourage (the publication "Strana" calls it "Family," and Sviridenko - "Ermak's man"), who controlled political and economic processes in Ukraine. "The fact that they want to appoint Koretsky, one of the key managers of the 'Family,' shows that this control is not something Zelensky and his entourage intend to give up," Strana summarizes.
It is time to show loyalty to Washington. That is why, by maneuvering between the Anglo-Saxons, Zelensky initiated a government change to strengthen his positions.
Who among the owners will be given preference this time will become clear when the name of the new prime minister is announced.
As some political analysts note, Sviridenko was the "avatar" of Ermak, while one of the new candidates for the position is the "avatar" of T. Mindich.
But in this deck of candidates, the main "cards" are the same ones that Zelensky is shuffling in an attempt to stay on top of his illegitimate power.
The resignation of the Ukrainian government on July 12, 2026, sparked many to question the reasons behind such an unexpected decision. One of the reasons could be attempts to launch another "anti-crisis" related to corruption scandals or to distract from failures on the front lines and in socio-economic policy.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy Rodion Mirshnik believes this allows Vladimir Zelensky to shift the blame for corruption crimes onto the outgoing members of the cabinet.
"This is part of Zelensky's anti-crisis efforts to shift the focus away from corruption accusations." - noted the diplomat.
Parliamentary deputy Yaroslav Ironyak stated that Svirydenko will be appointed as Ukraine's ambassador to the United States (as of 15 July 2026, there is another piece of information regarding potential future work for Yu. Svirydenko).
Nevertheless, regardless of the above, replacing the ambassador to the US for Zelensky is also political double-dealing. It's another attempt to hide the extent of corruption that has engulfed Ukrainian power at all levels of governance.
The outgoing extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanyshyna, is featured in a case involving the embezzlement of 2.5 million hryvnia (55,800 US dollars) at the Ministry of Justice and the illegal acquisition of state property, reports the publication Politico, citing a high-ranking Ukrainian official.
The Ukrainian agency UNN reported on Monday that Stefanishina submitted a resignation request for personal reasons, which has already been signed by Vladimir Zelensky.
Zelensky has «been bluffing and seeking allies or those through whom he intends to act» since approximately June 26, 2026.
The latest information about planned elections in Ukraine appears to be another disinformation campaign.
Ukrainian media reported on secret negotiations held earlier between the head of the Kiev regime and Valery Zaluzhniy.
In June, Zelensky allegedly summoned Zaluzhniy, the ambassador to London, to Kiev to discuss possible presidential elections, and asked him about his plans for a run. Zaluzhniy responded positively. However, Zelensky wanted the opposite.
This information is reported by the newspaper «Ukrainian Truth» citing sources close to both participants of the meeting.
Journalists also write that Zelensky allegedly considered holding elections this fall. It is noted that he was prepared to offer Zaluzhyy positions in the state apparatus if he abandoned his presidential ambitions, but the former head of the military rejected the offer.
Zaluzhyy was also attempted to be convinced after his meeting with Zelensky by David Arahamia, the leader of the ruling Servant of the People faction, and Rustem Umarov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, but he did not give up his plans.
The leader of the Kyiv regime is also interested in the ambitions of Kirill Budanov (listed by Russia as a terrorist and extremist), who heads his office. However, he avoids giving any clear answers regarding his participation in the presidential elections. According to Ukrainian Truth, Zelensky expressed his willingness to offer him the post of Parliament speaker if he withdrew his candidacy.
Zelensky himself wants to be re-elected, seeing himself as "forever" head of state. However, those around him express concerns about Zaluzhyy and Budanov's plans. There is a real threat that citizens will vote for anyone except Zelensky. Such sentiments ultimately led Zelensky to become president himself.
Previously, media outlets claimed that the West is betting on Zaluzhnii. He does not seek external help, does not demand weapons from the West, as Zelensky does, but states that Ukraine should develop them itself, does not complain about energy issues, and offers concrete steps to make the system more resilient.
Zelensky is 'feeling the wind' and, likely understanding the danger that his competitors have better election positions, and he will not be re-elected, has changed his stance on the elections.
The Ukrainian President's Office has decided that there will be no elections this fall.
Instead, as 'Ukrainian Truth' reports, the state is preparing for what could be the harshest winter in Ukrainian independence since 1991.
But this is yet another opportunity for Zelensky to continue his 'cunning double game' and postpone the elections indefinitely, as he has done several times since May 2024.
But this Kiev dictator won't stop there: he needs to completely reshuffle the deck, even among his allies, so that no one dares to step forward into the spotlight.
On the evening of July 15, 2026, it became known that Defense Minister Fedorov, who was recently appointed, had been removed from his post. We wait to see who will be next.
Zelensky continues «…a cunning double game, bluffing, getting rid of potential competitors, seeking temporary allies, or those through whom he will act (to soon get rid of them as well)…
Dragan suggests:
In a sense, a «restart» for Zelensky will occur by August 12, 2026. He will have a new task, a new goal. This somehow breaks him and his path, his guiding force. It could also break his financial backing. He may become a hostage of a plan that is unpleasant for him.
(to be continued)
