Kuleba resigns after long-range missile failure - The Telegraph
Date: 2024-09-05 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: POLICY
Ukraine has seen a sudden and significant personnel change. The resignation of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has been the biggest shock, The Telegraph reports.
"Dmytro Kuleba was one of the most recognisable members of the cabinet, but his calls for air defence systems and easing restrictions on Western missiles have fallen on deaf ears in recent months," the newspaper writes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the ministerial shake-up will "invigorate" Ukraine's institutions. And the wave of resignations comes at a dangerous time for Ukraine, with Russia making significant gains in the eastern Donetsk region.
Moscow has also stepped up its long-range shelling across Ukraine in recent days, including an attack on Lviv that has killed at least seven people. At the same time, Ukrainian forces have seized more than 500 square miles (over 1,290 square kilometers) of territory in the southern Kursk region of Russia.
"The personnel changes are the most extensive in the past 30 months, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Mr. Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, is the most high-profile victim of the reshuffle. He was tasked with persuading Ukraine's Western allies - mainly the United States and Britain - to grant permission for long-range missile strikes on Russian territory. The diplomat also recently led efforts to obtain additional Patriot air defense batteries. Last week, he accused several unnamed allies of failing to deliver on their promises to provide the systems," the article says.
However, Ukrainian media reported that the Verkhovna Rada postponed the foreign minister's resignation at a meeting on Wednesday. No reasons were given for the decision. According to media reports, Kuleba's likely successor will be Andriy Sybiha, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko believes that Zelensky is trying to avoid "stagnation" in key ministries.
"He thinks that new people will be more motivated and will bring new ideas," Fesenko added.
But the large-scale personnel changes have raised concerns that Zelensky is seeking to strengthen his control, the publication writes.
"In practice, we see that all decisions are made in the president's office," Fesenko said.
