Changing the defense minister is the most significant change in the inner circle of the Ukrainian president during the war of aggression against Russia. Rustem Umerov, distinguished in negotiations regarding the exchange of prisoners and the export of grain, will take up the position.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced yesterday, Sunday, his intention to change the country’s defense minister. Departure passes are available Would be Reznikov, who has become a familiar face during the war both in European capitals and at meetings of the military alliance NATO. Reznikov has taken to the world Ukraine’s request for more arms aid.
– The Ministry of Defense needs new approaches and new interaction with both the army and society as a whole, Zelenskyi said.
Reznikov confirms that he has submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament.
The dismissal announcement came at the same time as the Ukrainian government has stepped up its anti-corruption efforts.
The 57-year-old Reznikov was in charge of the Ministry of Defense even before the start of the Russian war of aggression.
The difference was expected
There have been signs of Reznikov’s position weakening for weeks, estimates an American who follows politics, for example online magazine Politico.
Reznikov’s reputation has suffered especially from the scandal in which officials of the Ministry of Defense have allegedly benefited from defense equipment sales. The defense minister himself was not among the accused, but the uproar is a bad blow to the ministry and also to the minister himself.
Despite the dismissal, Reznikov is not completely out of the picture. It has been speculated in the Ukrainian media that Reznikov would be appointed as Ukraine’s next ambassador to London.
Interviewed by the BBC according to the expert, Reznikov has also received a lot of praise, especially in priming Ukraine’s relationship with NATO.
Umerov acquired incentives as a negotiator
A 41-year-old will become the new defense minister Rustem Umerov. He currently heads the fund responsible for the privatization of state assets.
Umerov was born in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. His parents are Crimean Tatars who were deported to Uzbekistan during Stalin’s dictatorship.
Umerov has acquired incentives, especially as a negotiator. He participated in negotiations with Russia already in the early months of the war.
He was also negotiating the Black Sea grain export agreement and the prisoner exchange agreement. The agreement released, among other things, the soldiers of the Azov Regiment who defended Mariupol last September.
Ukraine has been told positive news about the counterattack
Russia launched a major offensive a year and a half ago. In recent days, the offensive in Ukraine, especially on the southern front, has been reported to have progressed.
The Ukrainian army said on Saturday that its forces have broken through Russia’s first line of defense near Zaporizhzhia.
Sources: Reuters