Kyiv: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Wednesday a significant reshuffle of Ukraine’s government, declaring the need for “new energy” as the country faces a crucial phase in its ongoing war with Russia. The reshuffle comes as six ministers, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, submitted their resignations, with parliament accepting the resignations of four of them.
The resignations included those of a deputy prime minister responsible for European integration, the strategic industries minister overseeing Ukraine’s arms production, and two other ministers, according to lawmakers.
“We need new energy today, and these steps are related only to the strengthening of our state in different directions,” Zelenskiy stated during a joint press conference with visiting Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris. Lawmakers noted that parliament is expected to consider Kuleba’s resignation on Thursday.
Dmytro Kuleba, 43, has been a prominent figure in Ukraine’s international relations, engaging with global leaders and advocating for military and political support in fluent English. His expected departure marks a significant change, though analysts suggest it has been planned for some time.
“This is a planned personnel overhaul of the government,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst. “Now half of the government will be renewed. This is Zelenskiy’s style. He believes that the new minister brings new energy, new approaches, works more actively. He expects exactly this effect.”
Despite the changes, Fesenko did not anticipate any major shifts in Ukraine’s foreign policy following Kuleba’s likely dismissal. Zelenskiy is expected to nominate a new foreign minister on Wednesday, with Andrii Sybiha, the current first deputy foreign minister, considered a leading candidate.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed the significance of Ukraine’s government changes, stating that they would not impact the peace negotiation process, though such talks remain a distant prospect given the wide gap between the warring parties’ objectives.
The next few months are crucial for Zelenskiy as he seeks increased support from Western allies and aims to regain momentum in the war against Russia, following the February 2022 invasion. Zelenskiy is set to travel to the United States later this month, where he plans to present a “victory plan” to U.S. President Joe Biden, a key ally.
As the conflict intensifies, Russian forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops have launched a bold incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Moscow has escalated drone and missile attacks in recent weeks, and Kyiv responded with a mass drone attack on Russia’s energy infrastructure over the weekend.
On Tuesday, the war saw its deadliest single attack this year when at least 50 people, including soldiers, were killed by two missiles in the central Ukrainian town of Poltava.
Analysts noted that Zelenskiy’s pool of available talent is limited, leading to speculation that some outgoing ministers might be reassigned to new roles. Outgoing Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, who played a key role in boosting Ukraine’s domestic arms production, indicated he would continue to serve in the defense sector in a different capacity.
Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported that parliament would continue considering resignations and appointments on Thursday. As of now, 10 out of 21 ministerial positions remain vacant. “Tomorrow the cabinet of ministers will be reset, as it was planned,” Zheleznyak wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
