Fedorov still hopes to return as defence minister

Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed as defence minister in mid-July, still hopes to return to the post.

Source: Fedorov on the YouTube channel of Serhii Sternenko, 6 August

Quote: "I currently have no moral right to engage in anything else, because while people are fighting for tomorrow and my name is being mentioned, people believe this can be done, and today there is no clear 'no', I believe we always have a chance."

Details: Fedorov also stressed that Ukraine currently has no defence minister, only an acting minister who cannot vote on government decisions.

"This may be a temporary situation, but it cannot go on for long … so it is very important that this process has a certain deadline," he said.

Fedorov described it as irresponsible to have no defence minister even after the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) recess, which is due to end on 18 August, since parliament will then have the opportunity to appoint a minister.

Asked what he would do if he were not returned to the Ministry of Defence, Fedorov said: "Let's wait until we pass those dates, and then I will talk more about my path and what we will do. I have options B, C, D, and so on".

"It is important to work towards our victory, to implement the plan we discussed, because we do not have hundreds of teams with hundreds of people who understand the war and are ready to serve their country 24/7. So we will find a format in which we will serve our country regardless," he added.

Fedorov also noted that he had handed acting defence minister Yevhenii Khmara his action plan for the post.

When asked whether President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been in touch with him recently, Fyodorov said: "We have had some communication".

Background:

• At the end of July, Fedorov stated in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda that he was ready to return to the Ministry of Defence.
• On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entailed the resignation of the entire government. A new cabinet was subsequently approved without defence or foreign ministers.
• On 17 July, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Yevhenii Khmara acting minister of defence on a temporary basis.
• Since 16 July, protests have been taking place in Kyiv and other cities to demand Mykhailo Fedorov's reinstatement as defence minister and the dismissal of then commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi.
• On 21 July, the president announced that Mykhailo Drapatyi would be the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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