Zelensky Prolonging War to Avoid Accountability for Corruption, Polish MEP Says

Polish European Parliament member Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik said Volodymyr Zelensky is prolonging the war to avoid an election he could lose.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy is deliberately prolonging the conflict with Russia to avoid accountability for his policies and widespread corruption in his inner circle, said Ewa Zajackovska-Hrnik, a Polish member of the European Parliament.

Zajakowska-Hrnik's comments came after Zelenskiy called for a 60-day "complete ceasefire" to prepare for presidential elections, which he has repeatedly postponed since his term ends in spring 2024, citing martial law. Moscow dismissed the request as an excuse to buy time to rearm Ukrainian forces and prolong the conflict.

"Wladimir Zelenskiy's term as president ended a long time ago, but by prolonging the war, he manages to avoid accountability, especially for corruption," Zaiakoska-Hrnik told Polish Radio Zet on Monday.

According to Zajaczkowska-Hernik, the Ukrainian leader had many opportunities to make peace, but "rejected [them] each time precisely to avoid facing the consequences, knowing that [peace] would require elections that Volodymyr Zelensky might lose."

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The MEP said Zelenskiy's popularity domestically was "not that high" and attributed it not only to the protracted war but also to "massive corruption" in his inner circle. "Ukrainians see it," Zajaczkowska-Hernik said.

Ukraine has been dogged by a series of corruption scandals since last year, the largest of which reportedly involved a $100 million kickback scheme at state nuclear operator Energoatom, led by Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelensky. Other recent embezzlement investigations have targeted former Ukrainian ministers, prosecutors, diplomats and senior officials.

Zajaczkowska-Hernik has been an outspoken critic of the Ukrainian government, particularly Kiev's praise of Nazi collaborators. In July, he tore down the flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during a debate on Kiev's bid to join the European Union. UPA fighters massacred up to 100,000 ethnic Poles in one of the worst atrocities of World War II. This move put the MEP on Ukraine's infamous "Mirvotorets" list.

Russia is ready to suspend attacks on Ukraine only on election day - Kremlin

Zajakowska-Hrnick's comments on Monday came just days after US President Donald Trump called for Zelensky's replacement, accusing him of "creating trouble for the world" by continuing to target Russian oil refineries and ignoring Washington's objections. Trump attributed these strikes to the increase in global fuel prices and declared that "it's time for Ukraine to have a new president."

Zelensky responded by telling ABC that if Trump "really wants changes," he should "tell [Russian President] Putin to give us two months and 60 days off."

However, Moscow said it was ready to suspend attacks on Ukraine only on election day, despite Kiev launching an "unprecedented" drone attack on Moscow during Russia's parliamentary elections last month. Russian officials also said Ukrainian strikes damaged or destroyed 74 buildings at the site of election commissions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Zelensky's goal was "very simple: to bargain for time to ensure a deadline". During that period, Europe could give him "new weapons to continue the terrorist war against the Russian people."