Kyiv: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba resigned on Wednesday, marking the highest-profile departure so far in a significant government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a critical period in the 30-month conflict with Russia. Kuleba, aged 43, was a prominent figure on the international stage, known for his fluent English and efforts to secure military and political support for Ukraine.
The reshuffle follows the resignation of five ministers on Tuesday and is viewed by a senior Zelenskiy ally as the beginning of a government “reset” as the country prepares for the colder autumn and winter months. Kuleba’s resignation was publicly announced by parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk on Facebook.
President Zelenskiy emphasized the need for government changes to achieve Ukraine’s strategic objectives. “Autumn will be extremely important for Ukraine. And our state institutions should be configured so that Ukraine achieves all the results that we need—for all of us,” Zelenskiy said on Tuesday.
As Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops conduct operations in Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow has ramped up drone and missile attacks. In response, Kyiv launched a significant drone strike on Russia’s energy infrastructure over the weekend. On Tuesday, two missiles struck the central Ukrainian town of Poltava, killing at least 50 people, including soldiers, in the deadliest attack of the war this year.
Later this month, Zelenskiy is set to visit the United States to present a “victory plan” to President Joe Biden, a key ally in the conflict. The Kremlin has stated that Ukraine’s government changes will not influence the peace negotiation process, though meaningful talks seem distant given the current divide between the warring parties.
Parliamentary committees are expected to review the resignations, with a formal vote likely to take place soon, according to lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak. Zelenskiy is anticipated to announce his choice for a new foreign minister on Wednesday, with First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha a leading candidate.
On Tuesday, the resignations included Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, and ministers from the justice, environment, and reintegration departments. Several key portfolios, including those for agriculture and infrastructure, have been vacant since earlier resignations or dismissals.
Opposition lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko criticized the ongoing reshuffle, describing it as an “intellectual and personnel crisis” and calling for a government of national unity to address the power concentration within Zelenskiy’s political team.
