For weeks, Zelensky has heard these warnings from U.S. officers.
When CIA Director William J. Burns flew to Ukraine in January to satisfy with Zelensky in regards to the rising Russian menace to his nation, the Ukrainian president requested whether or not he or his household had been personally at risk, based on a Zelensky aide, who mentioned that the chief was skeptical the Russians would attempt to kill him.
Burns didn’t share particular data however made clear that Zelensky wanted to take his private safety severely, the aide mentioned.
The CIA declined to remark.
On the time, intelligence instructed that Russian hit groups may already be in Kyiv, nicely earlier than the primary forces ever crossed the border, based on officers accustomed to the data who, like others, spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate delicate materials.
U.S. officers in latest days have spoken to Zelensky about quite a lot of safety points, together with the most secure locations for the president to situate himself to make sure continuity of the Ukrainian authorities, mentioned a senior U.S. official.
“Now we have been making him conscious not solely of the specter of Russian invasion, now a actuality, but additionally the menace to him personally,” Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif), the chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee, mentioned. “We stand prepared to help him in any approach.”
Eradicating Zelensky may provide Russian President Vladimir Putin the swiftest method to finish the struggle in Ukraine or keep away from a protracted, expensive occupation, a number of present and former nationwide safety officers mentioned this week.
With the Ukrainian chief out of the image, Putin might attempt to set up a puppet substitute.
In January, the British authorities accused the Kremlin of scheming to exchange Zelensky with a pro-Russian politician and former member of Ukraine’s parliament.
Schiff mentioned he fearful that if the Russians captured Zelensky, they might maintain him incommunicado or pressure him to make concessions.
“I’m deeply involved with the menace to his life and nicely being,” Schiff mentioned.
Because the Biden administration and Western allies warned an invasion was coming, Zelensky publicly downplayed the menace. He and his aides acknowledged that Putin may order the forces massing in large numbers on Ukraine’s borders to strike, however they mentioned U.S. and different European leaders additionally risked igniting a public panic and financial disaster with their fixed warnings of an imminent assault.
Now that Russia has struck, U.S. officers warned once more this week that Putin’s aim was to decapitate the Ukrainian authorities. White Home press secretary Jen Psaki indicated to reporters on Thursday that america had plans to help Zelensky if he had been personally threatened.
“We’re not going to get into safety — safety questions, however we’re in contact with President Zelensky, and we’re working to offer him a variety of help,” Psaki mentioned.
In line with a Ukrainian official, Zelensky has not directed his personal safety companies to take away him to a protected metropolis, corresponding to Lviv, though they stand prepared to take action.
Keeping off rumors that he had fled, Zelensky posted a video on Telegram on Friday surrounded by his high advisers and the prime minister in entrance of Bankova, Ukraine’s equal to the White Home.
“We’re all right here. Defending our independence. Our nation. And so it’s going to proceed,” Zelensky mentioned.
Zelensky famous in his earlier remarks that his household remained in Ukraine, as nicely, however he declined to say the place.
He additionally mentioned that “sabotage teams” had infiltrated Kyiv, with out saying whether or not they had been concentrating on him personally.
Later, Zelensky’s administration mentioned in a public assertion that “enemy reconnaissance and sabotage teams function insidiously, disguising themselves in civilian garments and infiltrating cities to destabilize the state of affairs by finishing up sabotage operations.”
Some officers praised the Ukrainian chief for staying in place regardless of the danger to himself and his authorities and the warnings he has acquired.
“The U.S. has been very forward-leaning each in sharing menace data with the federal government of Ukraine, together with President Zelensky, in addition to declassifying a major quantity of intelligence to make sure that the world knew about Russia’s plans for this unprovoked aggression,” mentioned Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “President Zelensky has courageously determined to remain and lead from Kyiv.”
Paul Sonne and John Hudson in Washington and David L. Stern in Lviv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.
