New Epstein files contain references to Putin, Zelenskyy

2026-02-01 - 22:15

The latest trove of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein case includes unverified references to high-level international politics, mentioning Russian leadership and Ukraine's president. Among the more than 3 million pages made public by the US Department of Justice, one 2012 document discusses former Russian Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev, speculating he could replace Vladimir Putin. A separate 2019 correspondence mentions then-President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These brief, context-light inclusions add a layer of geopolitical intrigue to the files primarily focused on the financier's sex trafficking network. Mentions of a potential Russian political challenger One document from January 2012 identifies Ilya Ponomarev, then a member of the Russian State Duma, as a main organizer of what it terms an "uprising" against President Vladimir Putin. The record includes the speculative claim that "he might replace Putin and become president himself ... if he does not [get] killed before." Ponomarev, an opposition figure, later left Russia, obtained residency in Ukraine in 2016, and became a Ukrainian citizen in 2019, facing legal prosecution in absentia from Moscow. The document offers no evidence of a connection to Epstein's crimes and appears as standalone commentary. A passing reference to Ukraine's Zelenskyy A second item, dated 2019, contains a brief commentary on Ukrainian politics following Volodymyr Zelenskyy's election victory but before his inauguration. It states, "Zelensky looking for help. Putin dismissive, saying he is run by Israelis." This passing remark, presented without supporting evidence or identified sources, reflects geopolitical rumors circulating at the time but is not substantiated within the document release. Like the Ponomarev note, it is isolated and does not allege any wrongdoing by Zelenskyy. Context of the Epstein document releases These political references are embedded within the vast, ongoing release of materials related to Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The documents largely consist of emails and records from lawsuits, with the primary aim of providing transparency about Epstein's network of associates and the facilitation of his crimes. The inclusion of tangential political gossip highlights how the files contain a wide array of information, the relevance and veracity of which must be carefully assessed. For international observers, including those in Türkiye, the case remains a symbol of impunity for powerful elites and the complex global intersections of money, influence, and abuse.