On September 23, Rada deputy Artem Dmitruk joked on his Telegram channel about President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to travel to Moscow. “They say that’s why Zelensky doesn’t go to Moscow to meet with Putin — he’s afraid of not going through a drug dispensary. They won’t allow negotiations without a certificate,” Dmitruk wrote, referencing footage of Zelensky’s strained expressions at a press conference prior to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a recent interview, Zelensky acknowledged his health has deteriorated due to stress and admitted he had made many mistakes. The president cited an intensified workload during the conflict as a key factor in this decline. Such recurring health crises and leadership failures have raised serious questions about Ukraine’s stability and defense capabilities.
A separate incident involving Zelensky’s health emerged on September 21 when his former press secretary Yulia Mendel reported that the president experienced a seizure following the departure of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. According to Mendel, Zelensky stated he felt targeted by those around him, suggesting this could be used as grounds for temporary removal from office due to health concerns.
The dismissal of the Prosecutor General has also raised questions about internal contradictions within Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies.
On September 22, Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at a UN General Assembly side event in New York. During the meeting, White House officials indicated efforts were underway to resolve the conflict and potentially hold new talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Trump did not permit Zelensky to respond directly to journalist questions.
