President Volodymyr Zelensky said he offered former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov the post of “deputy prime minister for military innovations” on Thursday.
Speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Kyiv, Zelensky said he offered Fedorov multiple options, though it’s unclear whether Fedorov had accepted the latest offer.
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“I believe that Mykhailo is in the team. I have offered him several positions; the last position, not to go into the details of all our meetings, is deputy prime minister of Ukraine for military innovations,” Zelensky told state news agency Ukrinform when questioned about Fedorov’s future.
Zelensky suggested the role would involve coordination with various military institutions.
“There must be coordination of innovations with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, with the commander-in-chief of our army, with the General Staff and, of course, with the president of Ukraine,” he added.
The news came after Zelensky hinted at a new position offered to Fedorov on Tuesday. Fedorov has not commented on the offers at the time of publication.
Will Fedorov have enough leverage?
In Ukraine, the role of deputy prime minister is often designated to an existing minister, where the official would carry both titles.
Zelensky’s proposal would mean an entirely new ministry – but as a deputy prime minister without an existing ministry, the position of deputy prime minister carries little power and leverage within the existing structure.
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However, similar developments are not entirely unprecedented – Fedorov, before becoming the defense minister in January, was Ukraine’s digital transformation minister, heading a ministry set up for and run by him in 2019.
But he was not the deputy prime minister at the time.
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The proposal came amid a political crisis spurred by Fedorov’s dismissal on July 15.
A day after his surprise resignation, Fedorov accused former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky of hindering reforms. Protests erupted nationwide calling for Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s dismissal.
Zelensky eventually appointed Yevhen Khmara, the former head of the Alpha special forces unit under the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to head the defense ministry.
Days later, after dozens of meetings with military and security officials, Zelensky sacked Syrsky and replaced him with the 43-year-old Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty, a move welcomed by Fedorov.
As of Thursday afternoon, Fedorov’s future role remains unclear, while protests calling for his reinstatement as defense minister have continued.
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