Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday appointed Andrii Sybiha, a career diplomat, as the country’s new foreign minister in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reshuffling of his top advisers.
Sybiha, 49, replaces Dmytro Kuleba, who had been instrumental in lobbying Ukraine’s Western allies for more military assistance for Ukraine’s 30-month fight against Russia’s invasion.
Sybiha, who speaks English and Polish, has been the deputy foreign minister and had also served as ambassador to Turkey. He is considered to be closer to Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, than Kuleba, who is the most prominent departure from Zelenskyy’s list of top officials.
The Foreign Ministry of neighboring Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, congratulated Sybiha in a post on X, saying, "We look forward to further cooperation for Ukraine's European future."
While Kuleba's diplomatic skills were acknowledged, his removal was part of a bid by Zelenskyy to exert a tighter grip on foreign policy, Ukrainian sources suggested.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Kuleba to voice his "great appreciation and friendship" from their time working together, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Wednesday.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X that there had been "few people I've worked as closely with" as Kuleba.
A source in Zelenskyy's party, however, said the presidency had been growing frustrated with Kuleba, Agence France-Presse reported.
"He was giving interviews, speaking beautifully, going on trips, this handkerchief in his jacket. ... He was engaged in self-promotion, instead of improving the work of embassies, working systematically on countries and getting their support," the source said.
A source close to the presidential office told AFP that Zelenskyy and Kuleba "will discuss and decide" his future post amid speculation that he could be tasked to steer Ukraine's bid to join NATO, although there is little chance of Ukraine joining the West’s key military alliance until after Russia’s war with Ukraine ends.
Zelenskyy, when asked about the rationale for his government shake-up, told reporters, "We need new energy. And these steps are related to strengthening our state in various areas."
Ukraine's parliament on Thursday also approved new nominations for several other posts, naming two new vice prime ministers and six other new ministers.
On the battle front, Ukraine’s military said Thursday it shot down 60 of 78 Russian drones that targeted regions across the country.
But Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram a Russian attack damaged an infrastructure site and injured one person.
In Kherson, officials reported Russian strikes that hit two medical facilities and injured two people.
Poltava Governor Filip Pronin said on Telegram that Russian forces hit an educational institution, but he did not provide information about casualties.
Russia’s defense ministry said Thursday it destroyed a rocket and two Ukrainian aerial drones over the Belgorod region. The governor there said on Telegram there was damage to a home and that one person was injured.
Russian air defenses also shot down three drones over the Kursk region and two drones over Bryansk, the defense ministry said.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
