In Ukraine, there is a joke: never waste time memorising the names of ministers – they’ll be replaced soon enough. Volodymyr Zelensky’s penchant for firing and rehiring every few months has become a signature of his presidency since 2019. This week has not been different, with the largest government shake-up since the full-scale war began. Or, as it turned out, just a reshuffle of the same familiar faces.
‘We need new energy today,’ Zelensky declared, as he instructed the Ukrainian parliament to dismiss and reappoint almost half the cabinet – eight ministers in total. ‘Autumn will be important for Ukraine. Our institutions must be set up so the country achieves all the results it needs.’ His team is gearing up for a critical trip to the US this month, where Zelensky will attend the UN General Assembly and meet Joe Biden. Zelensky promised to present the US President with a ‘victory plan’ – one that supposedly will force Russia to the negotiating table.
Zelensky’s government has been running on fumes after five years in power.
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