European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, highly praised the work of Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov. According to the European official, it was under Fedorov that the Ukrainian army was able to implement effective strategies for deep strikes into the enemy's rear, including targets in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.
Effectiveness of work in the defense department
Kubilius emphasized that he would not comment on the current political situation but noted the fruitful cooperation with Fedorov's team. "We worked very effectively with Mykhailo Fedorov and his team. And we saw in Mykhailo Fedorov a minister who managed to achieve a lot in such a short period," the European Commissioner stated.
According to his statement, successes in developing and launching long-range strikes, particularly against Crimea, are directly linked to Fedorov's appointment as Minister of Defense. The European official believes that it was his leadership that allowed the defense strategy to reach a new level.
Uncertainty regarding future appointment
The question of who will take the post of Minister of Defense in the new government remains open. Kubilius noted that the decision will depend on the President and the new Prime Minister, refusing to make assumptions. "We will continue to work. We will also see what tasks he (Fedorov) will continue to perform," the European Commissioner added.
Political context and rumors of resignation
Information about a possible change in the leadership of the defense department appeared against the backdrop of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement about a "reboot" of the Cabinet of Ministers and the law enforcement system. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine sources reported on tense relations between Zelenskyy and Fedorov, although some interlocutors refuted this data.
In the "Servant of the People" party, they noted that the possible dismissal of Fedorov could be a signal of the victory of the generals in the confrontation with civilian leadership. However, as of midday on July 14, no source in the government bodies could either confirm or deny information about the minister's resignation.
Recall that the new head of the government could be the current head of "Naftogaz", Serhiy Koretzky. Details of personnel changes and their impact on Ukraine's defense strategy will be known after the official announcement of the composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers.
