What's happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has initiated a significant cabinet reshuffle amid declining popularity and ongoing military challenges. The departure of key officials, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, raises concerns about governance and strategy as the war in Donbas continues to escalate.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Politico, Zelenskyy's reshuffle has triggered backlash, with critics accusing him of centralizing power and sidelining dissenters. Lawmaker Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsad stated, 'All the actions of the current authorities speak of the systematic centralization of power.' Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that public sentiment is shifting, with citizens expressing confusion over the timing of the reshuffle amidst ongoing military challenges. A cashier in Kyiv remarked, 'We need to concentrate on the war,' highlighting the urgency of the situation. The departure of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was instrumental in securing Western aid, raises questions about Ukraine's diplomatic strategy moving forward.
How we got here
Zelenskyy's government has faced mounting pressure due to military setbacks in the Donbas region and declining public support. The reshuffle comes as part of efforts to consolidate power and address perceived governance issues amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
More on these topics
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Dmytro Kuleba is the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine since August 29, 2019. He had been the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe between 2016 and 2019.