NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the appointment of a new Ukrainian defense minister is unlikely to cause a fundamental shift in Kyiv’s military strategy against Russia. The decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dismiss Defense Minister Mychailo Fedorov, which occurred just six months after his appointment, prompted unusual protests in Kyiv. Reports suggest that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is being considered as a replacement.
Speaking to the dpa news agency on Thursday, M. Rutte indicated that he anticipated continued consistency from Kyiv. He noted that, in his assessment, the Ukrainian army’s performance on the front lines has improved significantly compared to the beginning of the year.
Following Fedorov’s dismissal, which was met with protests and a proposal from V. Zelensky, the former defense minister was reportedly not accepting the move. The NATO Secretary-General added that the Russian army was advancing into certain areas, implying the need for sustained defensive and offensive capabilities.
Rutte’s comments emphasized that, despite personnel changes within the Ukrainian government, the overarching military direction of Kyiv remains stable, given the reported improvements in the state’s defense posture.
Topics: #kyiv #minister #rutte
