KYIV — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is confronting one of the most challenging moments of his leadership nearly four years into Russia’s war, as internal political unrest, a major corruption scandal and intense international pressure collide with worsening battlefield conditions.

For more than a week, Zelenskyy has struggled to contain the fallout from a $100 million corruption scandal involving senior officials and close associates.

The crisis erupted as the United States pushes a proposal that would require Kyiv to make significant concessions to end the war, including ceding territory and limiting the size of its military.

“Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest,” Zelenskyy said in a national address on Friday.

The political turmoil comes as Russian forces make slow but steady advances along parts of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and intensify strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, triggering severe electricity shortages as winter approaches.

Here is a closer look at the pressures weighing on Ukraine’s president:

A rebellion inside his own party
Zelenskyy is facing rare pushback from lawmakers within his Servant of the People party after anti-corruption investigators revealed that $100 million was siphoned from the energy sector through contractor kickbacks.

The scandal led to the dismissal of two top officials and sanctions on close associates, including Tymur Mindich — a former business partner of Zelenskyy — who has reportedly fled the country.

Some lawmakers and activists are now calling for the removal of Zelenskyy’s influential chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, accusing him of wielding excessive power over government appointments.

Political analyst Mykola Davidiuk said frustration has been building: “The management style of Zelenskyy is not working.”

Zelenskyy’s political position remains secure — for now
Martial law has postponed elections indefinitely, making it extremely unlikely Zelenskyy will be removed while the war continues.

However, a weakened parliamentary majority could complicate any attempt to pass a potential peace agreement — especially one involving painful compromises.

A potential rival with wartime credibility
While no elected opposition figure poses a viable threat, former military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi remains a popular figure. Now Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.K., he denies political ambitions — but polling shows he could be competitive in a postwar election.

US draft plan demands major concessions from Kyiv

A leaked US draft proposal would require Ukraine to:
• cede all of Donbas to Russian control
• relinquish potential NATO membership
• accept limits on its armed forces

Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected such terms as unconstitutional and unjust. But he acknowledged Friday that Ukraine now faces a difficult choice: “either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.”

Analysts warn the timing — amid Kyiv’s corruption scandal — leaves Ukraine vulnerable to external pressure.

Mounting battlefield and infrastructure challenges
Russia has intensified attacks along the frontline and against Ukraine’s power grid.

The fiercest battles are near Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub in Donetsk.

Meanwhile, strikes on power plants have caused some of the worst electricity shortages since the start of the war.

Amid the escalating crises, Zelenskyy urged unity, saying, “It will be much easier for me to achieve a decent peace for us ... knowing that the nation of Ukraine is behind me.” — Agencies