Ex-defence minister Fedorov’s team reveals more about his role as adviser to Italian minister: he will stay in Ukraine

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO, Olha Kyrylenko - 29 August, 20:45

Mykhailo Fedorov and Guido Crosetto. Photo: Fedorov on Facebook

Mykhailo Fedorov's press office has stated that his previous position as defence minister does not prevent him from serving as an adviser to the governments of other countries, and that he will continue to live and work in Ukraine.

Source: Fedorov's press office, commenting on his work as an adviser to Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto

Quote: "Mykhailo Fedorov's previous position as defence minister does not impose any restrictions on his ability to serve as an adviser.

This [role] does not involve disclosing state secrets or specialist information required for the development, production or use of military products, or any other technical documentation or restricted-access information.

Engaging former senior officials as experts and advisers to the governments of other countries is common international practice. They are brought in precisely because of their management experience and expertise in specific fields."

Details: Fedorov's press office gave several examples, noting that former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has been engaged by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an adviser on economic recovery; former Canadian deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland has become an adviser to Zelenskyy on economic development; and former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has also been involved in international advisory work since leaving government, including in the areas of international policy, security and support for Ukraine.

Fedorov's team said the role of defence innovation adviser is primarily about exchanging management and expert experience in technological warfare, and that this kind of cooperation is important for Ukraine because it "deepens cooperation with NATO countries and their defence industries and creates new opportunities for Ukrainian defence tech companies, joint development projects and investment initiatives".

The press office also noted that Fedorov has dozens of other international cooperation projects planned.

Quote: "At the same time, Mykhailo Fedorov will continue to live and work in Ukraine. His main focus remains here – helping Ukraine defeat the enemy. His international work will enable him to attract more attention, partners and investment to new projects – a think tank and an innovation fund that will invest in Ukrainian technologies and weapons that could change the course of the war."

Background

On 28 August, Fedorov announced that he had accepted an offer from Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto to become his adviser.
On 22 August, Fedorov said that following his dismissal from government, his future plans include working on a venture fund to attract investment in Ukrainian defence start-ups, setting up a think tank and civic initiatives aimed at a "return to democracy", and lecturing at universities.

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