Government shakeup in Ukraine: Kuleba resigns

Video 4 September, 2024 11:15

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on September 4 reportedly became the latest cabinet official to submit his resignation after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced plans to shake up the wartime cabinet at the 2 1/2-year mark in Russia's full-scale invasion, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Announcing Kuleba's resignation, speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said Kuleba's resignation would be discussed by lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.

A day earlier, Stefanchuk said Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk had also tendered resignations.

Zelenskiy has said more changes to Ukraine's government are coming in an effort to strengthen the government and deliver the results that the country needs.

"That is why there will be a number of personnel changes in the cabinet of ministers and the office of the president," he said on September 3, indicating that the changes would be coming in the fall.

Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Justice Minister Denys Malyuska, and Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets also resigned earlier the same day. Kamyshin, who oversees domestic arms production, said he would continue working in the defense sector but in a different role.

Ukraine needs more interaction between the central government and communities, especially during preparation for the winter season, Zelenskiy said to explain the changes.

Since taking office in 2020, Kuleba has been a key figure in Ukraine's efforts to fight off Russia's full-scale invasion, travelling across the world to secure allies and mobilise support from the country's international partners, Euronews reports.

Domestic media had been awash with rumours in recent days that Kuleba would be dismissed and that his replacement was still under consideration.

The name at the forefront appears to be Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, according to reports.

The news of Kuleba's resignation comes after various other leading ministers also submitted their letters of resignation the day before, ahead of an expected government reshuffle. The jobs of justice minister, ecology minister and various deputy prime minister roles are now all up for grabs, among others.

The reason for the resignations has not yet been specified.