{"id":18553,"date":"2025-08-26T00:43:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T20:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/?p=18553"},"modified":"2025-08-26T00:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T20:43:50","slug":"ukraines-former-commander-in-chief-valeriy-zaluzhny-at-the-center-of-diplomatic-tensions-with-the-u-s-ahmad-shahidov-spoke-to-arb24-from-washington-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/?p=18553","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine\u2019s former Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhny at the center of diplomatic tensions with the U.S. \u2013 Ahmad Shahidov spoke to ARB24 from Washington DC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Zalujn\u0131 AB\u015e il\u0259 diplomatik qar\u015f\u0131durman\u0131n m\u0259rk\u0259zind\u0259 \u2013 \u018fhm\u0259d \u015eahidov Va\u015finqtondan ARB24`\u0259 dan\u0131\u015f\u0131b\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fy72BQW_CFQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and currently the country\u2019s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valeriy Zaluzhny, has in recent days found himself at the center of a new diplomatic controversy. According to The Guardian, shortly after the tense Oval Office meeting in February between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Washington sought to reach out to Zaluzhny. Reports say that U.S. Vice President JD Vance\u2019s team attempted to arrange a phone call with Ukraine\u2019s ambassador in London, but Zaluzhny, after consulting with Zelensky\u2019s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, declined to respond.<\/p>\n<p>The development has sparked diverse commentary both in Kyiv and across Western capitals. Official sources firmly deny that Zaluzhny harbors any political ambitions. His press service has repeatedly emphasized that under wartime conditions, the priority remains defending the country, not elections or political maneuvering.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to ARB24 from Washington, political commentator Ahmad Shahidov said Zaluzhny\u2019s decision carried both domestic and international implications:<br \/>\n\u201cBy not answering the call, Zaluzhny signaled his loyalty to Zelensky while also showing caution toward Washington\u2019s overtures. Yet, this incident also revealed that the U.S. is no longer focused solely on Zelensky but is also exploring potential future leaders of Ukraine. This suggests a possible shift in the political balance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ahmad Shahidov further added:<br \/>\n\u201cFor now, Zaluzhny is keeping himself outside of the political process, but his high popularity and reputation in the West ensure his name remains in the spotlight. If the political situation in Ukraine changes in the coming months, his role could become far more prominent. At present, however, he remains in a \u2018waiting\u2019 position \u2014 which itself keeps him a central figure both in Kyiv and in Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18554\" src=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-700x394.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-475x267.jpg 475w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18555\" src=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-700x394.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-475x267.jpg 475w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025a.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18556\" src=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-700x394.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-475x267.jpg 475w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025b.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18557\" src=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-700x394.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-700x394.jpg 700w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-475x267.jpg 475w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/shahidov.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/arb24_25.08.2025c.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and currently the country\u2019s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valeriy Zaluzhny, has in recent days found himself at the center of a&hellip; 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