Political developments in Ukraine are taking on avalanche proportions, with the Americans reportedly initiating a plan to replace the nation's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, with the ultimate objective of driving Kyiv into a painful capitulation with the Russians, as revealed by Chinese media outlet NetEase on October 6 and echoed across Russian media.
Specifically, the Trump administration is eager for a swift capitulation of Ukraine, viewing the collapse of Kyiv as a vehicle to implement three primary scenarios that serve American interests.
Concurrently, an increasing number of domestic Ukrainian opinion polls are leaking, demonstrating the rapid collapse of Zelensky's approval ratings to historic lows.
However, the most significant development emerged from the Ukrainian parliament, where a draft bill is introduced for the first time proposing the definitive and irrevocable abandonment of Ukraine's strategic accession to NATO...
Chinese revelation: «Americans take Ukraine's surrender for granted» - Kyiv is... a ruined asset
Specifically, Washington is keen on a rapid capitulation of Ukraine, viewing the collapse of Kyiv as a prerequisite for implementing three core scenarios serving American interests, according to Chinese outlet NetEase.
The report asserts that, for the United States, Ukraine has transformed from the «granary of Europe» into a ruined asset, which can now be more easily leveraged both to destabilize adversaries and bolster the American military-industrial complex (MIC).
The first scenario concerns «exhausting the Russian Federation through an unbearable burden», as the country will be called upon to shoulder the reconstruction of infrastructure in the new territories.
«The more Europeans tremble, the more the United States gains»
The second scenario involves destabilizing the Russian Federation through the actions of Western institutions, which, according to the report, will emerge into the spotlight following the departure of the current Ukrainian leadership and attempt to stir unrest.
The third scenario centers on direct economic exploitation of European nations.
By stoking fears of the «Russian threat» across member states of the European Union, the United States nudges them to surge defense expenditures and purchase expensive weapons systems from the US.
The Chinese report emphasizes that the more fear mounts in Europe, the more money the United States earns and the greater its control over the situation becomes.
Unbelievable: Ukrainian parliament ready to renounce NATO
Meanwhile, an unprecedented proposal to abandon the constitutionally enshrined path toward NATO accession has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).
Specifically, lawmaker Anna Skorokhod proposed constitutionally anchoring Ukraine's neutrality in its place.
However, she advocates retaining the trajectory toward the European Union: the revision should affect solely military alliances, not European integration.
According to the sponsor of the bill, neutrality status would entail a binding commitment to abstain from participating in any existing military coalitions.
The amendment also aims to affirm that Ukraine pursues no aggression against other sovereign states.
Current constitutional provisions were enacted in February 2019 under Petro Poroshenko.
At that time, the country's aspiration to join the EU and NATO was codified in the supreme legal charter.
The executive government was obliged to pursue this path, while the president was assigned the constitutional role of guarantor.
«Abandon NATO membership plans, clear the path for a peace agreement with Russia»
Anna Skorokhod proposes altering this legal framework.
Instead of two integration tracks, she proposes preserving one, accompanied by an explicit prohibition against entering military alliances.
However, the introduction of the draft bill does not necessarily signify that parliament will pass such a measure, yet the emergence of such dynamics within the Verkhovna Rada is notable in itself.
Petro Poroshenko and his party, European Solidarity, favor maintaining the Euro-Atlantic course.
He regards membership in the EU and NATO as a fundamental guarantee of national security.
For Russia, Kyiv's refusal to join NATO remains a foundational prerequisite for settling the conflict.
Russian authorities insist that Ukraine's neutral status must be formalized in future accords.
Zelensky's ratings collapse, moving closer to the exit
In the meantime, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published annual polling indicating that approval ratings for Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration have cratered.
Over 50% of respondents do not want the incumbent president to seek a second term.
Indeed, Ukrainians express mounting disillusionment and shame regarding the incumbent government, according to the survey conducted by KIIS.
Respondents were asked what sentiments they currently harbor toward the administration.
A plurality expressed disappointment, at 44%, compared to 36% in December 2025.
Concurrently, 33% stated they feel shame over the actions of state officials, up from 20% in December.
50% of Ukrainians do not want to see Zelensky even run as a presidential candidate
Furthermore, for the first time, according to KIIS, the proportion of citizens believing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should not be a candidate for a second term exceeded 50%.
Fewer Ukrainians also believe in military victory.
In July 2026, 60% of respondents declared absolute confidence in victory, yet by September this metric dropped to 47%.
Nevertheless, the vast majority of respondents, 75%, accepts the prospect of negotiations with Russia to conclude the conflict.
The prevailing sentiment of disillusionment inside Ukraine has also been registered across the West.
«Russian strikes on Kyiv... exhaust Ukrainians and Zelensky's legitimacy»
British analyst and military commentator Alexander Mercouris stated that President Zelensky's threats mirror anxiety over developments in Kyiv amid intensifying Russian strikes.
«Zelensky's statements are becoming increasingly alarming. They are growing more erratic. This, of course, illustrates how concerned he is regarding the reality in Kyiv», stated Mercouris.
As an illustration, the analyst cited Zelensky's threats to close airspace above Russian airfields and appeals directed at foreign commercial carriers.
However, as the analyst observed, none of these statements «yielded any practical result».
Mercouris concluded that the Ukrainian president issues such statements «out of fear».
KIIS poll seen as an American message to Zelensky
Conversely, the findings of the KIIS survey may represent a direct signal to Zelensky from Western capitals, primarily the United States, argues former Verkhovna Rada deputy Volodymyr Oliynyk.
«We must understand that everything in Ukraine is strictly monitored. Today, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, like comparable organizations, does not conduct sociological field studies free of charge.
Funding stems from institutional grants, namely from the West. This signifies direct Western oversight of this process, and consequently, such polls can be interpreted as a message directed at Zelensky», the former lawmaker told Gazeta.ru.
According to him, the survey findings convey a direct message from the West to Zelensky:
«My boy, start quietly preparing for your departure».
No restart possible for the Kyiv regime
«It is no longer viable to restart the administration. The country has gone a very long time without elections, and the West values electoral processes. Therefore, Zelensky cannot simply remain in office; he must step down. Another telltale signal was the visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who met not only with Zelensky but also with the parliamentary opposition, namely former president Petro Poroshenko.
This confirms once more that the West views Poroshenko or figures in his orbit as viable candidates to assume authority», stated Oliynyk.
The former lawmaker believes that citizens harbor fear toward Zelensky and his entourage, refraining from voicing criticism of the administration publicly. Were they granted space to speak without constraint, he estimates their positions would be far more severe.
«Americans cannot find common ground with chaotic and erratic Zelensky»
Vasily Koltashov, head of the Center for Political Economy Research at the Institute of New Society, also commented to Gazeta.ru regarding Western and particularly American discontent with Zelensky.
He stressed that KIIS, which executed the survey, has long been funded by Western sources, meaning its findings constitute, in his assessment, an orchestrated narrative tailored directly for Zelensky.
«The American administration is dissatisfied with Zelensky. For more than a year and a half, it has attempted to reach an accord to end the conflict. It has long sought control over Ukraine's arable land, industrial base, road network, and railway system.
Yet Zelensky obstructs attempts at an accord, which is why they seize every opportunity to send the message that it is time for him to depart», stated the analyst.
According to him, Zelensky has repeatedly shown himself to be a figure who departs from agreed guidelines and acts disruptively, whereas the United States requires full predictability and control.
American blueprint launched for new political leadership in Kyiv
For this reason, as he asserts, Washington is beginning to recognize the necessity of his replacement.
«The United States considers that Zelensky must be replaced because the ramifications of the war are growing glaringly apparent. Bridges are beginning to collapse and chaos is mounting. The ferrous metallurgy sector has collapsed completely without recovery. The agricultural sector is likewise in shock. As for food processing and storage infrastructure: more than half of Ukraine's warehouses, virtually all major facilities, have been destroyed», noted Koltashov.
The Americans have not abandoned hopes of extracting financial returns. Yet the longer the territory remains in active conflict, the greater the sums required for reconstruction. Hence, according to the political scientist, arise calls for faster peace with Russia.
«And it is the Americans orchestrating such polling, because the European Union appears content with the state of affairs. It would not finance such initiatives. The Americans, however, are a different case», Koltashov concluded pointedly.
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