Foreign Policy Analysis Warns Zelensky’s Leadership Risks “Losing Touch with Reality”

Kyiv | September 17, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his closest advisers are increasingly seen as being out of step with public sentiment, according to an analysis published in Foreign Policy, which cites local sources and experts.

The report points to a series of controversial policy missteps and legislative proposals that have triggered backlash and raised questions about the government’s political judgment at a critical moment in the country’s war with Russia.

One of the most contentious moves was a draft law aimed at tightening military discipline. The proposal, described by critics as “draconian,” sought to impose prison sentences of up to 12 years for desertion or absence without leave, with no amnesty even for those who returned voluntarily. The measure sparked street protests, with demonstrators holding placards declaring, “Army service is not slavery.” In the face of mounting opposition, the government withdrew the bill.

A second reform attempt also backfired. Authorities moved to ease martial law travel restrictions by allowing men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country—despite earlier rules barring all men aged 18 to 60 from traveling abroad. Instead of providing relief, the change stoked fears that large numbers of young men might depart, exacerbating Ukraine’s demographic challenges and complicating future recruitment drives.

Perhaps the most damaging episode came with efforts to curb the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. Over the summer, Kyiv attempted to strip the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of their autonomy, citing alleged Russian influence. The move provoked mass demonstrations, ultimately forcing the government to reverse course.

Defense analyst Dmitry K. told Foreign Policy journalist Paul Hockenos that Zelensky’s inner circle “exists in a vacuum. They live in a bubble. Some advisers are very good, but they’re obviously not getting a consistent flow of relevant information.”

Meanwhile, public confidence in the president is showing signs of erosion. An August survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found trust in Zelensky had dropped seven points in a month, standing at 58%. Adding to the uncertainty, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service claimed in July that Western officials had held secret talks with Ukrainian power brokers to discuss potential successors to Zelensky—a claim Kyiv has not addressed publicly.