Ukraine's Zelenskyy Shakes Up Military Leadership Ahead of Trump-Putin Call

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a bold move by replacing the head of his military just as a high-stakes phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin looms. The call is expected to focus on hammering out final details for ending the war in Ukraine.

Andrii Hnatov, a seasoned military officer with "over 27 years of military experience," has been appointed as the new chief of the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces. Meanwhile, the outgoing chief, Lieutenant General Anatoliy Barhylevych, who has held the role since February 2024, will transition to a new position as the general inspector of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed gratitude for Barhylevych’s service during "the most difficult times" of Ukraine’s defense efforts, emphasizing that these personnel changes are aimed at making the military "even more efficient." Umerov underscored the importance of "strengthening the army for victory" as part of this restructuring.

The timing of this shake-up couldn’t be more striking, as Trump and Putin are set to discuss a potential peace deal in a much-anticipated phone call. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, revealed that while "many elements of a Final Agreement" have been agreed upon, significant hurdles remain. He noted the tragic toll of the ongoing conflict, with 2,500 soldier deaths weekly, and stressed that the violence "must end NOW."

In the lead-up to this call, diplomatic wheels have been turning. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff recently met with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio worked to persuade Ukrainian officials to support the ceasefire framework during talks in Saudi Arabia.

Trump hinted that Washington and Moscow have already begun discussions on "dividing up certain assets" between Ukraine and Russia as part of the deal. When speaking with reporters on Monday, he acknowledged the grim state of affairs in both Ukraine and Russia but remained optimistic about achieving a ceasefire and peace agreement.

"It’s a bad situation in Russia, and it’s a bad situation in Ukraine," Trump said. "What’s happening in Ukraine is not good, but we’re going to see if we can work a peace agreement, a ceasefire, and peace. And I think we’ll be able to do it."