Top Diplomat of Kyiv Resigns During Reshuffling of Leadership
Senior lawmaker and Zelenskyy ally David Arakhamia suggested that more than half of the current cabinet could be replaced in what he called a government reset.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has submitted his resignation, as confirmed by the speaker of parliament, marking Kyiv’s most extensive cabinet reshuffle since Russia invaded eastern Ukraine in early 2022.
Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk announced on Facebook on Sept. 4 that “The Verkhovna Rada [Ukraine’s parliament] has received a resignation letter from Foreign Minister Kuleba.”
The resignation request of Kuleba will be reviewed at an upcoming plenary session, Stefanchuk stated.
Kuleba was appointed the top diplomat of Kyiv in 2020 and has since engaged in significant international trips to garner support for Ukraine’s war efforts.
It is anticipated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will name Kuleba’s successor shortly, with Andrii Sybiha, Kyiv’s deputy foreign minister, being among the frontrunners.
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Kuleba’s reported resignation comes in the midst of an ongoing government reshuffle, with four cabinet ministers and a deputy prime minister resigning from their positions a day earlier.
On Sept. 3, ministers of justice, environment, reintegration, and strategic industries in Ukraine all submitted their resignations.
Additionally, Olha Stefanishyna, Kyiv’s deputy prime minister for European affairs, also made known her intention to step down on the same day.
If parliament approves the departures, over a third of Ukraine’s cabinet portfolios could be left without ministers.
“It’s a government without ministers … an intellectual and personnel crisis that the authorities are ignoring,” opposition lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko told Reuters.
New appointments are expected to be announced and confirmed by the assembly later this week, according to parliamentary officials.
Reports in the Ukrainian press suggest that most, if not all, outgoing ministers will be reassigned to other government roles.
Critical Juncture
The precise reasons for the sudden wave of resignations remain unclear.
On Sept. 3, senior lawmaker and Zelenskyy ally David Arakhamia warned of an impending “government reset,” hinting at the replacement of more than half of Ukraine’s current cabinet.
“Tomorrow, a day of dismissals awaits us—and a day of appointments the day after,” he remarked.
According to Zelenskyy, the leadership overhaul is aimed at ensuring that Ukraine is equipped to face the challenges of Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“The autumn will be incredibly crucial for Ukraine,” he noted in a video address on Sept. 3. “Our state institutions need to be aligned so that Ukraine achieves the necessary results.”
“We have to strengthen certain aspects of the government, and changes in its composition are being prepared,” Zelenskyy added.
He also indicated that there will likely be “changes” in the office of Ukraine’s presidency.
On the same day, Zelenskyy’s office announced the dismissal of Rostyslav Shurma, the Ukrainian leader’s deputy chief of staff for economic affairs, who had been facing corruption allegations for several months.
The unfolding cabinet reshuffle in Kyiv comes at a critical point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has entered its third year.
Since the beginning of last month, Kyiv has been conducting a cross-border offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, prompting Moscow to vow a severe response.
Meanwhile, Russia has reported significant advancements on the eastern front, positioning its forces to potentially capture the town of Pokrovsk, a crucial Ukrainian logistics center.
Moscow has also launched more frequent drone and missile strikes in recent weeks, further compromising Ukraine’s already strained transport and energy infrastructure.
On Sept. 3, numerous individuals, including military personnel, perished in a massive Russian missile strike on an army college in the Ukrainian town of Poltava.
Reuters contributed to this report.
