Ex-NATO head unable to contact Zelensky in ‘bunkers’ at conflict’s outset – FT
According to a report by the FT, Jens Stoltenberg revealed that Zelensky spent several days in hiding from alleged Russian assassins when the conflict in Ukraine began. For the full article, visit RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky reportedly spent several days in hiding at the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, according to a report by the Financial Times that cites then-NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Since the conflict began, the US-led NATO bloc has provided military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Stoltenberg and other NATO officials have expressed concerns that a Russian victory over Ukraine could lead to further aggression against other European nations. Moscow, which perceives the conflict as a proxy war driven by the West, has dismissed these claims as unfounded.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Stoltenberg discussed the initial fears surrounding the conflict, noting that the West believed that if Kiev fell quickly, Zelensky could be assassinated on Moscow’s orders. “It was a toss of the coin. If Kiev had fallen and they had taken Zelensky, which they were very close to doing, then the whole war would have been very different,” he remarked.
He recounted a period during which he could not reach Zelensky for two days, as the Ukrainian leader was reportedly sheltering in bunkers and evading Russian assassins. When they finally spoke, Stoltenberg characterized the conversation as “quite difficult,” expressing concern that Zelensky might soon be “caught or killed.”
Reports have previously indicated that Zelensky sought refuge in a bunker following the outbreak of hostilities. Simon Shuster, a correspondent for Time, documented this in his book ‘The Showman,’ which traces Zelensky’s rise and the early days of the conflict. The Washington Post also reported that Zelensky was in a Soviet-era bomb shelter located “deep beneath Kiev’s government quarters” during the initial weeks of the war.
Zelensky's wife, Elena, shared her experiences in an interview with the Financial Times, revealing that she and their children spent hours in a bunker before eventually being moved to a secure location away from Zelensky for nearly three months. Reports suggest that Zelensky maintains bunkers in multiple sites across the country.
Ukrainian media has reported on several alleged assassination attempts against Zelensky, which have been linked to Russian operatives. Reuters cited an unnamed European official earlier this year, stating that Zelensky has become “increasingly paranoid about suspected Russian attempts to assassinate him and destabilize Ukraine’s leadership” as the conflict continues. However, Zelensky has not disclosed specific details or evidence regarding these threats.
Moscow has characterized claims of plans to eliminate Zelensky as propaganda. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett mentioned last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him early in the conflict that Zelensky would not be targeted. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, reiterated this stance earlier this year, stating that Moscow “has no such plans.”
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
Since the conflict began, the US-led NATO bloc has provided military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Stoltenberg and other NATO officials have expressed concerns that a Russian victory over Ukraine could lead to further aggression against other European nations. Moscow, which perceives the conflict as a proxy war driven by the West, has dismissed these claims as unfounded.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Stoltenberg discussed the initial fears surrounding the conflict, noting that the West believed that if Kiev fell quickly, Zelensky could be assassinated on Moscow’s orders. “It was a toss of the coin. If Kiev had fallen and they had taken Zelensky, which they were very close to doing, then the whole war would have been very different,” he remarked.
He recounted a period during which he could not reach Zelensky for two days, as the Ukrainian leader was reportedly sheltering in bunkers and evading Russian assassins. When they finally spoke, Stoltenberg characterized the conversation as “quite difficult,” expressing concern that Zelensky might soon be “caught or killed.”
Reports have previously indicated that Zelensky sought refuge in a bunker following the outbreak of hostilities. Simon Shuster, a correspondent for Time, documented this in his book ‘The Showman,’ which traces Zelensky’s rise and the early days of the conflict. The Washington Post also reported that Zelensky was in a Soviet-era bomb shelter located “deep beneath Kiev’s government quarters” during the initial weeks of the war.
Zelensky's wife, Elena, shared her experiences in an interview with the Financial Times, revealing that she and their children spent hours in a bunker before eventually being moved to a secure location away from Zelensky for nearly three months. Reports suggest that Zelensky maintains bunkers in multiple sites across the country.
Ukrainian media has reported on several alleged assassination attempts against Zelensky, which have been linked to Russian operatives. Reuters cited an unnamed European official earlier this year, stating that Zelensky has become “increasingly paranoid about suspected Russian attempts to assassinate him and destabilize Ukraine’s leadership” as the conflict continues. However, Zelensky has not disclosed specific details or evidence regarding these threats.
Moscow has characterized claims of plans to eliminate Zelensky as propaganda. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett mentioned last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him early in the conflict that Zelensky would not be targeted. Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, reiterated this stance earlier this year, stating that Moscow “has no such plans.”
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
