Ukraine's Foreign Minister Resigns

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has officially resigned, submitting his letter of resignation to the national parliament on Wednesday.

In addition to Kuleba, four other key ministers have been dismissed, including Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olga Stefanishina, Minister for Strategic Industries Aleksandr Kamyshin, Minister of Justice Denis Maliuski, and Minister of Environmental Protection Ruslan Strilets.

Despite these changes, Prime Minister Denis Shmigal is expected to retain his position.

Speculation about Kuleba’s departure had been rife, especially after other cabinet changes were announced.

Ukrainian media outlets, such as Ukrainskaya Pravda, have reported that Andrey Sibiga, a former ambassador and current deputy chief of staff to Zelensky, is the frontrunner to replace Kuleba.

This cabinet reshuffle follows the official expiration of President Zelensky’s mandate and that of the Ukrainian parliament.

While the Ukrainian constitution only allows for the extension of parliamentary terms, Zelensky has cited the ongoing martial law as grounds for postponing all elections indefinitely.

Rumors of Kuleba’s potential ouster had circulated since March, particularly after the resignation of Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko. 

Reports suggest that President Zelensky has been dissatisfied with the diplomatic service's performance, with some sources indicating that Zelensky's foreign policy adviser, Igor Zhovkva, was once considered as Kuleba’s replacement.

Kuleba has been a vocal advocate for increased Western support in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, frequently pressing for more military aid and financial assistance.

However, his recent remarks during a visit to Poland, where he referred to certain Polish territories as “Ukrainian lands,” sparked controversy and strained relations with a key ally.