(Bloomberg) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will nominate Andrii Sybiha, a senior diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey, as foreign minister, in the biggest cabinet reshuffle since the Russian invasion in 2022.
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Sybiha, who served in the presidential office during the war until becoming first deputy foreign minister this year, is set to replace Dmytro Kuleba, the head of Zelenskyy’s political party David Arakhamia said on Telegram after the president met with lawmakers. The 49-year-old’s appointment must be approved by parliament, where Zelenskyy’s party has a majority.
Sybiha will lead diplomatic efforts as the invasion of Moscow reaches a critical point with Russian missiles destroying Kiev’s energy infrastructure before winter. Ukrainian troops struggle to hold off a Russian offensive in the east and the war-torn nation seeks air defense weapons from allies to protect civilians.
Zelenskiy said he wants a “slightly different emphasis” in domestic and foreign policy. Kuleba, who is likely to focus on strengthening ties with NATO, has been the public face of Zelenskiy’s efforts to forge a path toward the Western military alliance and integration into the European Union.
Sybiha served as Ukraine’s top envoy to Turkey from 2016 to 2021. He then worked in Zelenskyy’s office, including under the powerful Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, who often overshadowed Kuleba on issues such as bilateral security guarantees and seeking support from the so-called Global South.
While climbing the diplomatic ranks in Kiev, Sybiha also served two terms at the embassy in Poland, one of Ukraine’s biggest allies in the war against Russia.
While Kuleba is the top official to step down as part of Zelenskiy’s reshuffle, Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister, will take on an expanded role, adding the Justice Ministry to her portfolio, Arakhamia said on Wednesday.
Oleksiy Kuleba, who works for the presidential administration, will be appointed infrastructure minister. Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister who oversaw arms production, will be transferred to Zelenskiy’s office and will be replaced by Herman Smetanin, the head of the state arms group Ukroboronprom, he said.
According to Arakhamia, Vitaliy Koval, the head of the State Property Fund, will be nominated as agriculture minister.
Lawmakers also discussed creating a ministry responsible for the return of Ukrainians from abroad, he said.
–With assistance from Olesia Safronova and Mark Sweetman.
(The context is updated from the second paragraph.)
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