Ukraine's wartime Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has submitted his resignation, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk announced on Wednesday.
“The application will be reviewed at an upcoming plenary session,” the Parliament speaker noted in a Facebook post translated by Google.
Kuleba, 43, has served as Ukraine’s Foreign Minister since March 2020 and has been a key figure in Kyiv’s efforts to garner international support against Russia's ongoing invasion, which began in February 2022. Prior to this role, he was Ukraine’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe from 2016 to 2019.
CNBC has reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
Kuleba’s resignation follows a wave of similar departures reported by state news agency Ukrinform, including Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, and Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska.
David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People faction in Parliament, had hinted at a significant "reboot of the government" this week.
“More than 50% of the Cabinet of Ministers will experience changes,” he said in a Google-translated Telegram post on Tuesday. “Tomorrow is the day for dismissals, and the day after will be for new appointments.”
In his nightly address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted at significant changes within Ukraine’s highest political ranks.
“Autumn will be crucial for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “Our state institutions need to be structured to achieve the results we need for everyone. To accomplish this, we must strengthen certain areas within the government, and personnel decisions have been prepared.” He noted that these changes would lead to a “slightly different emphasis” in Kyiv’s foreign and domestic policies.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for an enhanced level of simultaneous information work, cultural diplomacy, and relations with the global Ukrainian community. He expressed gratitude to those who would support the strengthening of Ukraine’s governmental institutions, though he did not reveal specific names for dismissal or appointment.
Reflecting its battlefield strategies, Ukraine has been engaged in a diplomatic battle, seeking international financial and military support while addressing domestic corruption issues and pursuing European Union membership.
The potential reshuffle in Ukraine’s foreign affairs comes just two months before the U.S. elects new leadership. The Biden administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris, has been a strong supporter of Ukraine. However, the future stance of former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours if elected, remains uncertain.
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