Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been accused by his former press secretary, Yulia Mendel, of using cocaine and prolonging the war for personal gain. In an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Mendel cited anonymous sources claiming that Zelensky deliberately undermined the 2022 Istanbul peace talks in order to continue the conflict.
She stated that Zelensky often disappears before briefings and uses the war as “propaganda” under the protection of figures like Joe Biden. “He has rejected opportunities for peace to extend the war for his own personal interests,” she added. Although Mendel accused Zelensky of drug use, she admitted she has never personally witnessed the president using cocaine.
Mendel, who left her post before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2021, has had her allegations completely denied by Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian government has portrayed Mendel as an “unreliable” figure due to her controversial past image. Nevertheless, these unverified claims have sparked considerable attention in international media amid ongoing debates about U.S. aid and the future of the war.
