The Zelensky government is corrupt and illegitimate

This position holds that the Zelensky government is corrupt and illegitimate, and that the West props it up against its own people's interests. Its advocates cite endemic corruption, stolen aid, defence procurement scandals and the circle around Yermak, and speak of cancelled elections and a banned opposition. They describe prosecutions as theatrical, selective justice and accuse Western governments of turning a blind eye.

Outlets associated with Russia carry it, twenty-two publishers in all. It appears in the dispute over official corruption and reconstruction challenges in Ukraine, where its own label is endemic corruption of the Zelensky regime. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov voices the wider line, accusing Europe of blocking peace talks and saying the West sets Zelensky and his circle against Russia.

No competing position is recorded against it. Recent events show Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, pursuing officials close to the president, with Zelensky dismissing a deputy head of his office and the prosecutor general, and a sacked defence minister calling for wartime elections, which Zelensky says would destroy Ukraine. European governments meanwhile continued to express support for Zelensky.