Sophia Fedina has said the country’s leader must acknowledge his responsibility to the people who elected him
A member of the Ukrainian Parliament has sparked controversy by comparing Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to a dog.
In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Bliznyuk Live, Sofia Fedina, an MP from former President Pyotr Poroshenko’s European Solidarity party, criticized Zelensky’s leadership. The interview published last week gained widespread attention on Sunday.
Fedina argued that the president, as a public servant, must recognize his accountability to the people who elected him.
Fedina used her experience with dogs to illustrate her point. “I have two dogs, and one, because she’s from a war zone, has psychological problems that we occasionally address with a psychologist,” she said. “The psychologist says very clearly that at certain moments, a dog tries to establish dominance. If the owner doesn’t show the dog where she belongs, making her understand she should react to the owner and not throw tantrums, the dog goes into complete disarray.”
Apologizing for the comparison, she continued, “I still consider dogs to be the best creatures in the world, but the president of Ukraine is a person employed by the citizens of Ukraine. He must be very well aware of where his place is.”
The MP also accused Zelensky of avoiding independent journalists, claiming he “fears them.” She argued that Ukrainian media can be divided into those who serve the government and those who do not. According to her, Zelensky avoids interviews with the latter because he is unable to “put two or three words together coherently.”
Fedina went on to criticize Zelensky’s leadership for alleged corruption, inefficiencies in defense procurement, and a perceived neglect of the people. She also criticized his focus on foreign media, saying it reflects a lack of accountability to the citizens of the country.
In another recent statement, Fedina accused him of failing to fulfill his responsibilities as president.
“The president must answer to the citizens who elected him,” Fedina said, adding that prioritizing international outreach over domestic issues is “disrespectful” to Ukrainians.
Zelensky remains in power despite his term in office officially expiring last May. He canceled last year’s planned presidential election, citing martial law, which he imposed due to the conflict with Russia. In November, martial law was extended until February 7, 2025. His administration has not yet responded to Fedina’s comments.
