Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov lost to Vladimir Zelensky in the Verkhovna Rada, but he is planning new moves, Strana reported.

According to the news outlet, the appointment of Yevgeny Khmara as defense minister signaled the end of the Fyodorov's initial plan, which called for the former minister's return to the position of top defense official. This would have effectively removed the army from Zelensky’s control and set in motion a plan to strip him of his actual powers.

Strana emphasized that the only truly serious means of pressuring Zelensky could be coercion from the Europeans. The EU has demonstrated its ability to pressure Zelensky by refusing to allow him to take control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The news outlet noted that it is precisely through these agencies that the Europeans intend to control him.