Ukraine war: Russian air strikes reported across the country
BBC NewsJan 31
White House Reacts to Dismissal of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief
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The Facts
The White House on Thursday reacted to news that Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi from his post as commander-in-chief, opting to appoint Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Responding to questions from reporters at a White House briefing, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Zelenskyy "gets to decide" the military leadership of his country.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Zelenskyy is the sovereign leader of Ukraine. While the US appreciates him keeping Washington informed of his decisions, it was purely his to make and the US will continue to work closely with whomever he decides to have in his top leadership.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the White House says this was solely Zelenskyy's decision to make, it nonetheless highlights the influence and power of the US on Ukrainian decisions. It's unimaginable that a leader of another country would have done the same.
