Is Zelensky Losing Touch With Reality as Ukraine’s Crisis Deepens?

How long can a leader survive when his own people begin to turn against him?

A new Foreign Policy analysis suggests that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his inner circle may be “losing touch with reality,” making legislative blunders that are alienating the very citizens they claim to protect. From harsh military laws to tone-deaf reforms, Zelensky’s government is now facing a wave of resentment that could threaten his grip on power.

One of the most controversial moves was a draft law that slapped soldiers with prison terms of up to 12 years for desertion or disobedience—without the possibility of amnesty. The backlash was immediate. Protesters flooded the streets with signs declaring, “Army service is not slavery,” forcing the government to retreat in embarrassment.

Then came another miscalculation: loosening martial law travel restrictions to allow men aged 18 to 22 to leave Ukraine. What was framed as a relief measure quickly backfired, raising fears of mass departures that could cripple future military recruitment and accelerate Ukraine’s demographic crisis.

But perhaps the most explosive blunder was Zelensky’s attempt to strip the country’s anti-corruption bodies—NABU and SAPO—of their independence. The move sparked mass protests across Ukraine, forcing his administration to backpedal yet again. Critics say the episode revealed how insulated Zelensky’s team has become, living in what one defense analyst described as a “bubble” where real public sentiment never reaches the top.

Polls show the fallout is real. Trust in Zelensky has dropped 7% in a single month, with whispers in Western circles about possible successors already making the rounds. Russia’s intelligence services even claimed that Western officials recently met with Ukrainian elites to discuss quietly replacing him.

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The question now is unavoidable: is Zelensky still the leader Ukrainians can rally behind, or is his political downfall already in motion?

With growing protests, declining trust, and foreign backroom talks about his replacement, the world is left wondering—is Zelensky losing touch with reality, and could this be the beginning of the end of his presidency?