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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday plans to replace Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov because he said “new approaches” were needed.
Driving the news: Zelensky said in a televised address that lawmakers would vote this week on whether to dismiss Reznikov, who’s led the ministry since before Russia’s military launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “I expect the Parliament to support” nominee Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine’s State Property Fund, Zelensky said.
The big picture: There has been a wave of dismissals in Ukraine’s defense ministry in recent months linked to a corruption scandal.
- Reznikov, 57, has not been directly implicated in the mishandling of military contracts, but there had been calls for him to resign as head of the ministry due to the scandal.
- Zelensky regards quashing corruption as a key factor in his efforts for Ukraine to join the European Union and NATO.
What they’re saying: “Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war,” Zelensky said in his address.
- “I believe that the Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large.”
- President Biden told reporters Sunday that he was aware of Zelensky’s defense ministry plans, but declined to comment further, per a pool report.
Of note: Umerov is a member of the Ukrainian opposition Holos party, but the 41-year-old former investment banker has taken on several key positions for Zelensky’s government during the war against Russia — notably playing a leading role in Ukraine’s delegation for the UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative and prisoner exchanges.
- He’s a leading member of the Crimean Tatar Muslim community, which has faced persecution since Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in 2014.
Flashback: Several Ukrainian leaders ousted amid corruption allegations
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment from President Biden and further context.
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