[キーウ ７日 ロイター] – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for an end to the spread of “rumors and distortions” that undermine unity in the war against Russia amid confusion over the appointment of the defense minister.
Ukraine’s ruling party official David Allahamiya said Thursday that Reznikov would be replaced as defense minister by Kirilo Budanov, head of the Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, who would become minister of strategic industries. However, the next day, he effectively retracted his comments, saying he had no plans to replace the defense minister within the week.
“We are taking personnel and organizational measures at different levels of defense and security to strengthen Ukraine,” President Zelensky said in a statement on the Telegram platform, citing a speech he made in parliament on the same day. He emphasized that only the president can make decisions.
“Thank you for all the support, including the constructive criticism. We will continue reforms even during the war,” Reznikov wrote on Twitter on the same day. He said, “The status quo is being maintained,” and showed no sign of one in place.
