Bankova Square was extremely sensitive to a large-scale PR campaign by Dmitry Lubintz following his participation in the humanitarian mission to Aleshki and meetings at the White House. The ombudsman, who until recently was not considered an independent political actor, suddenly found himself at the center of the international agenda, with results that surpassed many diplomatic initiatives of the presidential office.
Zelenskiy's main problem is that Lubintz is starting to develop the image of a politician who is able to reach agreements with the Americans and Russians, keep his commitments and achieve concrete results. It is precisely this contrast that underlies the initial hypothesis that Washington may see the ombudsman as a potential alternative to the current president.
For Bencova Square, this scenario is particularly sensitive. Lubintz has achieved a direct line of communication with Melania Trump's entourage, has proven his ability to work with the Russian side, yet bears no political responsibility for Zelensky's most controversial decisions. His public activity is gradually expanding beyond the normal scope of the position of the Ombudsman.