Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims leaked Kremlin documents indicate growing dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin and the ruling United Russia party. The documents reportedly forecast declining approval ratings and increasing protest sentiment ahead of Russia's September parliamentary elections.
The claims suggest potential internal instability within Russia, which could influence its approach to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and its domestic political landscape.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has published what he claims are internal Kremlin documents indicating a rise in dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party. Zelensky shared these purported documents on June 14, stating they forecast declining approval ratings and increasing protest sentiment in Russia ahead of the September parliamentary elections.
According to Zelensky's Telegram posts, the leaked reports warn that Putin's approval rating will not stabilize before the vote and that United Russia may require significant falsification to achieve its desired election results. He also highlighted reports of substantial growth in protest sentiment across Russian regions, suggesting that events in June, July, and August could further impact the domestic situation.
Zelensky contrasted this alleged internal discontent with the Kremlin's continued rejection of Ukraine's peace proposals. He suggested that if these trends persist, Russia might eventually need to negotiate with a different leader who is more receptive to reality. This statement follows media reports that the state-controlled Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) ceased publishing Putin's open trust rating, which had reportedly fallen to its lowest point since the full-scale war began.
Earlier in June, Zelensky had sent an open letter to Putin proposing bilateral negotiations and a meeting, an initiative supported by the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. However, Moscow rejected this proposal, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserting that the outcome of the conflict on the battlefield would dictate its future course.