The ships are moving further and further apart: do Zelensky and Fedorov understand reality?

After two so-called off-recs this week – Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mykhailo Fedorov – we can state: these two ships are increasingly moving away from each other. Each is following its own course.

The format of off-recs has long looked strange, because everything said at such meetings becomes known literally within an hour. But more importantly, there is an increasingly noticeable political distancing between Zelensky and Fedorov.

And this, in my opinion, is a natural process. I wouldn’t even look for some special technology here, which Volodymyr Oleksandrovych hinted at. Because Fedorov today is, in fact, Zelenskyy yesterday, a model of 2019. In particular, with sometimes idealistic ideas about what and how should happen tomorrow.

And when the president calls Fedorov a “marketing expert,” it’s hardly just a warm description of a former associate. In a sense, it’s already reminiscent of a “captains’ competition” with an eye on the upcoming elections. Although both are still in the warm-up phase.

Fedorov is also increasingly speaking in manifestos. And each of them can be turned in his favor or used in a campaign against him in the future.

“Two Comrades Served.” I don’t remember what the movie was about, but the principle here is surprisingly apt.

And here again we have to repeat: all these internal political frictions would even be interesting to watch if they did not distract both the politicians themselves and the people involved in this process from the main function. Because now Ukraine needs to win the war, not buy popcorn and watch the KVN competition. There will still be time for political competitions.

There is another point that is disturbing in the case of both political characters: how much they actually feel about reality.

When it is so easy to ironize that there is supposedly no political crisis because Khmara was voted for by a constitutional majority, the question arises: do those on Bankova really not see what the danger to themselves lies in?

Yanukovych also had “everything was calm” for a while. Up to a certain point. And then the Maidan began.

It’s a similar story with Fedorov. You can talk as much as you want about his “wings being clipped,” but history will definitely not forgive Ukraine if it loses the chance to get a decision on satellite data from Elon Musk.

If Fedorov manages to achieve this, it will no longer matter what his position is called. He will have a chance to go down in history precisely because of the result.

And finally. It’s time to end these “filtered meetings.” If the president, minister, or any other high-ranking official has something to say, they should come out and speak.

And not just with selected journalists.

The people have the right to be heard.