Ukraine’s foreign minister resigns ahead of expected cabinet reshuffle

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba became the latest top official to tender his resignation on Wednesday, ahead of an expected major government reshuffle as yet another wave of Russian attacks overnight killed at least seven people, including a child.

 

As Ukraine’s top diplomat, Kuleba has been a prominent fixture in Zelensky’s administration and one of the most public-facing, especially dealing with overseas officials. He was seen as a capable politician and a safe pair of hands, one of the strongest members of Zelensky’s cabinet. His offer to resign comes ahead of an expected visit by the president to the United States this month.

 

Kuleba’s was the latest in a flurry of resignations. Two of Ukraine’s vice premiers, three ministers, the head of the State Property Fund and a top official in Zelensky’s Presidential Office have all quit within the last day or so.

 

The parliament needs to approve the resignations for them to take effect. They are yet to vote on Kuleba’s exit, but have approved the resignations of the three other ministers and one of the vice premiers on Wednesday. They did not accept the resignation of the property fund head and the deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk, who will remain in their posts.

 

The parliament is expected to vote on Kuleba’s resignation on Thursday. It will also vote on the two resignations it did not accept on Wednesday and consider the appointment of new ministers.