The rift between Zelenski and the general in charge

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukrainians to remain united, days after a split between his cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The Ukrainian leader, who in a speech late Monday also said it was not the right time for elections, asked Ukrainians to strengthen the country and not allow themselves to be drawn into internal conflicts that could jeopardize the war effort.

"Now everyone should think about the defense of our country. We must unite and avoid falling into division and conflict. If there is no victory, there will be no country. Our victory is possible," said Zelenski.

During the weekend, the divisions between the president's cabinet and his chief general Valery Zaluzhny came to light, who compared the situation on the battlefield with Russia to the stalemate in the First World War.

A few days later, Zelensky rejected the idea of ​​any pause in the war, and his foreign policy adviser said that Zaluzhny's comments about the war in an interview with "Ekonomist" were "very strange" and could play into Russia's hands.

A close associate of Zalužnji was killed when a grenade exploded among his birthday presents, the Guardian reported.

"Under tragic circumstances, my assistant and close friend, Major Gennady Chastyakov, died... on his birthday," Zaluzhnyi announced on Telegram on Monday.

Some Ukrainian sociologists say polls suggest a gloomier mood is sweeping Ukrainian society, with polls showing most citizens distrust the government or parliament

Reuters writes that the idea of ​​a standstill on the battlefield is highly sensitive in Kiev, which has repeatedly said it opposes any negotiations with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, whose troops, he insists, must withdraw from the territory of Ukraine.

In another apparent breakdown in communication, Zelenski replaced the head of the Special Operations Forces on Friday, who said he learned about the dismissal from the media and that Zalužnji, his boss, did not know about it either.

Ukraine is in the midst of a five-month counteroffensive that has not made much progress in the occupied south and east. The sustainability of Western military aid is also being questioned and Ukraine fears it is entering a second winter of Russian airstrikes on its power grid.

Some Ukrainian sociologists say polls indicate a gloomier mood is sweeping Ukrainian society, with polls showing most citizens distrust the government or parliament. Zelenski still enjoys a lot of support.

In a speech on Monday, he said that all the state resources in the country's full attention are needed for victory and that budget funds should be directed to defense, not to repairing the streets. He also told Ukrainians it was "not the time" to hold presidential elections, ending weeks of speculation that Kiev could find a way to hold them in March even though they are banned under Ukraine's state of war.

"We all understand that now, in a time of war, when there are so many challenges, it is absolutely irresponsible to impose a story about elections on society in a carefree and entertaining way," said Zelenski.

Had it not been for the state of emergency, which was imposed when Russia began its invasion and has been extended every three months, elections would have been held in March, the same month Putin is expected to run again for another term in Russia and extend his rule.

The elections have been widely debated in Ukraine after US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said they should be held despite the war, although Western observers privately say they would undermine unity and be easily exploited by Russia.

The conflict in the Middle East will not affect the support of the Group of 7 rich nations to Ukraine in its war with Russia, Japan said yesterday, as G7 foreign ministers prepared to hold virtual talks with Kiev during a summit in Tokyo.