Zelenskyy offers former defence minister Fedorov "worthy leadership position"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he has offered former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov a "worthy leadership position".
Source: Zelenskyy in an address on 21 July
Quote: "I also had a meeting today with Mykhailo Fedorov. I offered Mykhailo a worthy leadership position that would allow him to bring together our country's technological capabilities and ensure their continued development.
Details: Zelenskyy said that acting Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara's security expertise and his record as the former head of the Special Group Alpha of the Security Service of Ukraine – particularly the unit's combat achievements, technological advances and deep-strike operations – speak for themselves, and that this experience is needed in government.
Quote: "We all want the same thing: to defeat the enemy and create the conditions – on the front line and through pressure on Russia – that would allow us to force Russia into peace. Tomorrow, we will formalise all of these decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will be harder for Russia."
Background:
- Protests were held in Kyiv and other cities on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 July, with demonstrators demanding that Fedorov be reinstated as defence minister and that Oleksandr Syrskyi be dismissed as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground and that problems on the battlefield, within brigades and with mobilisation remained unresolved.
- On 18 July, the president said he had spoken with Fedorov and Syrskyi. He promised that "decisions regarding the army will be worked out".
- On 20 July, Syrskyi apologised to Fedorov and said he had not realised there was a conflict between them.
- Following six days of protests, Zelenskyy announced his decision to dismiss Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appoint Mykhailo Drapatyi to replace him.
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