Iuliia Mendel, a former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has publicly urged Ukraine to consider surrendering to Russia, arguing that prolonged resistance risks turning the country into a failed state. Once a close ally of Zelensky and a prominent supporter during his early presidency, Mendel has become one of his most vocal critics, accusing his administration of failing to pursue peace negotiations with Moscow.
Mendel’s shift in stance comes amid ongoing tensions over the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While she acknowledges that Russia initiated the conflict, she contends that continued fighting will only prolong Ukrainian suffering and economic devastation. “My country is dying,” Mendel said, suggesting that a “bad peace” might preserve Ukraine’s independence more effectively than a “bad war.” She believes that future Russian aggression could be deterred through diplomacy rather than military resistance.
In response to her statements and public promotion of views deemed by Kyiv as aligned with Russian narratives, the Ukrainian government imposed sanctions on Mendel this week. These measures include blocking her social media accounts within Ukraine and freezing her assets. Mendel condemned the sanctions as unconstitutional attempts to silence her and denied allegations that she has any contact with Russian authorities.
Born in Ukraine’s Kherson region, which partially remains under Russian occupation, Mendel worked for U.S. media outlets before joining Zelensky’s administration in 2019. She stepped down several months before the war began and has since been residing in the United States with her husband, Pavlo Kukhta, a former Ukrainian deputy economics minister. Mendel has not returned to Ukraine since 2025.
Her recent public appearances and statements have attracted controversy. She was barred from entering the European Parliament in Strasbourg for an event organized by Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which advocates ending all financial and military assistance to Ukraine. Mendel declined to explicitly endorse the AfD’s position but expressed hope that it might help end the conflict. She criticized Western perceptions of the war, challenging notions of Ukrainian resilience as being unrealistic.
Mendel has also made a series of contentious claims about President Zelensky and his inner circle, including allegations—without evidence—of corruption, drug use, and occult practices. One claim alleges that Zelensky confessed admiration for Joseph Stalin in a private conversation, and that in 2022, he reportedly indicated a willingness to cede the Donbas region to Moscow. Zelensky’s office denied these assertions, describing Mendel as “not herself” in recent times.
The former press secretary accused Western leaders of prioritizing the weakening of Russia over securing Ukraine’s safety and criticized Zelensky’s implementation of martial law and forced military mobilization as authoritarian measures reminiscent of Nazi Germany—a characterization commonly used by Russian propaganda.
Mendel has not communicated with Zelensky since early in the conflict. She questioned his commitment to peace efforts, stating that despite previous attempts by Zelensky to negotiate an end to the war, Russia has rejected them. She accused the president of consistently finding reasons to continue the fighting.
Her evolving narrative underscores the deep political fissures surrounding the war in Ukraine and reflects the complex array of perspectives on how to resolve one of Europe’s most significant conflicts in recent history.