KYIV, July 11 — The shift is subtle but significant: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now publicly suggesting that not everyone in Moscow wants the war to continue. In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan on February 4, 2025, Zelenskyy stated that he believes there are individuals within Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle who support ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy did not name specific individuals, but he asserted that these figures privately acknowledge the toll the war has taken on Russia. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and massive economic sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including a potential peace summit in Saudi Arabia, and as Ukraine continues to face Russian offensives in the eastern Donbas region.
The Trend Underneath
What’s changing here is the public framing. Zelenskyy is not just fighting a war; he is trying to split the enemy’s command from within. By claiming that Putin’s own advisors are questioning the war’s cost, the Ukrainian president is signaling that the Kremlin’s unity may be cracking. Analysts caution that such claims are difficult to verify and may be aimed at encouraging internal dissent. But the statement itself is a strategic move — a piece of information warfare designed to plant doubt among Russian elites.
The timing matters. Ukraine is still under pressure in the Donbas, where Russian forces continue their grinding offensive. Casualties on both sides have been enormous. The economic sanctions on Russia, imposed by Western nations, have hit the Russian economy but have not yet forced a change in Moscow’s strategy. A peace summit in Saudi Arabia has been floated as a potential venue for talks, but no date or concrete agenda has been set.
Inside the Kremlin’s Silence
Zelenskyy’s claim is notable because it comes from a wartime leader who has repeatedly said he will not negotiate directly with Putin. The Ukrainian president has insisted that any peace deal must include a full Russian withdrawal from occupied territories. Yet here he is, suggesting that some in Putin’s circle might be ready to break ranks.
The statement underscores divisions within the Russian leadership, though the extent of those divisions remains unknown. Putin has consolidated power over two decades, purging or sidelining rivals. But the war has been longer and costlier than anticipated, and some Russian oligarchs and officials have reportedly expressed frustration privately. Whether that frustration translates into action is an open question.
Watch this space. If Zelenskyy’s gambit works, it could accelerate the timeline for negotiations. If not, it’s a sign that the Kremlin’s grip remains tight. Either way, the Ukrainian president is betting that the war’s toll is creating fractures in Moscow that can be exploited. The next few months, and the potential Saudi summit, will show whether he is right.
