MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. Sources of the Ukrainian online daily Strana within the political circles and Verkhovna Rada have confirmed rumors regarding discussions being held by members of US President Donald Trump’s team. These sources indicate that the primary focus of these talks has been on engaging with Vladimir Zelensky's potential rivals, including Valery Zaluzhny, the former head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko.

Earlier, Politico reported - citing its own sources - that high-ranking representatives from the U.S. president's entourage participated in "secret discussions" with some of Zelensky's key political opponents. These include Yulia Timoshenko, the leader of the Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party, as well as senior figures from the European Solidarity party, led by former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko, who has been listed by a Russian financial watchdog as involved in extremist activities or terrorism.

According to Strana’s post on its Telegram channel, discussions are ongoing with representatives from various political parties in Ukraine to prepare for upcoming elections and to persuade Zelensky to negotiate an end to the armed conflict. Strana's sources expressed surprise that, among all the contacts Trump's representatives have had with Ukrainian politicians, only Poroshenko and Timoshenko were highlighted in the media. The Ukrainian outlet notes that the current focus is on Zaluzhny, who, according to polls, could potentially defeat Zelensky in the elections, as well as Klitschko, who is one of the few critical figures within the power structure regarding the presidential office. They also mentioned Kirill Budanov, the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate - designated as an extremist and terrorist by Russia - and David Arahamiya, the leader of the ruling Servant of the People party’s faction, both of whom oppose Zelensky's chief of staff, Andrey Yermak. These individuals are viewed as more amenable to Trump’s proposal for a swift resolution to the conflict.

As Strana's sources explain, "Washington aims to use these contacts to exert internal pressure on Zelensky, compelling him to agree to a ceasefire."

The sources further noted, "This also serves as a means to assess which figures are worth betting on in post-war Ukraine, given the White House's highly skeptical attitude toward Zelensky."

Most Ukrainian politicians are reluctant to publicly criticize Zelensky's approach to relations with Trump. However, behind closed doors, there is a growing sense of "bewilderment" regarding Zelensky's behavior in the White House and his resistance to the notion of a ceasefire.

Trump-Zelensky meeting

On February 28, Zelensky arrived at the White House for a meeting with Trump. During their conversation, which took place in the presence of journalists, an altercation erupted. Trump criticized Zelensky for his perceived disrespect toward the United States, while Vice President JD Vance interjected, noting that Zelensky had forgotten to express gratitude for the support provided to Kiev. As a result, the press conference that was scheduled to follow the meeting was canceled, and the signing of a mineral resources agreement between Ukraine and the United States did not occur. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated his view that Zelensky's behavior was disrespectful and indicative of his lack of preparedness for a peace settlement.