Political tension is growing in Kyiv regarding personnel issues within the defense ministry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly stated that he has no intention of making concessions on the issue of returning Mykhailo Fedorov to the post of Minister of Defense. This decision remains unchanged despite ongoing protest actions.
Limit of concessions: why Fedorov will not return
According to sources in the entourage of the head of state, Zelensky's readiness for dialogue and compromise has clear boundaries. The President has already fulfilled one of the key demands of society — he fired Oleksandr Syrsky from the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, he does not plan to fulfill the demand to return Fedorov.
Even long-term actions, dubbed "cardboard protests" by the media, have failed to change the president's position. According to insiders in Zelensky's team, the protests will eventually subside unless they move to a systemic approach.
Escalation: from static actions to marches
Protesters are not giving up. Next Friday, on the day of Zelensky's return from a foreign trip, a change in the format of the actions is being discussed. Instead of a static gathering in the square near the Franko Theater, a march is planned. This could become a new stage in the development of civil pressure on the authorities.
According to one source in the president's team, protests lose their power when they turn into a "Hyde Park," where everyone puts forward their own demands. "We need one powerful and clear demand, not when everyone demands something of their own, like with Kim," he noted.
Political intrigues and hidden plans
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that in the summer of 2025, at the beginning of the first "cardboard protests," proposals were made at meetings in the administration to stage provocations there. However, Zelensky discarded these ideas, preferring to keep the situation under control.
It has also become known who could have become the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine instead of Drapaty, and how many Ukrainians actually support Syrsky's dismissal. This data will help understand the depth of the social divide and possible scenarios for the development of events.
Fedorov's future: politics or resignation?
The question of whether Mykhailo Fedorov will go into big politics remains open. His decision may depend on many factors — from the position of society to internal struggles in the government. For now, he remains outside the office of the Minister of Defense, but his name continues to figure in political discussions.
