Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov turned down President Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer to become the “deputy prime minister for military innovations” on Thursday.
In a written response shared with journalists, Fedorov thanked Zelensky for the offer but said he would only accept positions that would allow him to make a difference.
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“I’m grateful to the president for all the options offered. However, today there are only three positions in the country that, alongside the troops on the battlefield, actually shape the course of the war: the President of Ukraine, the Minister of Defense, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he wrote.
“That is why I will not accept any position other than Minister of Defense,” he added.
Fedorov said he and his team joined the defense ministry with the goal of boosting air defense and crippling Russia’s economy, saying he could not afford to “lose” the momentum.
“At the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky in January 2026, our team joined the Ministry of Defense with a specific plan to end the war: defend the skies, hold the front line, and strike the enemy’s economy. We called this plan AIR–LAND–ECONOMY,” he wrote.
“Over the past six months, we consistently executed this exact plan. For the first time in recent years, Ukraine began seizing the initiative. Our collective results created something unprecedented, a window of opportunity to force Russia into peace through strength. And we cannot afford to lose it,” he added.
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Fedorov said it’s the only position that would allow him to realize his vision of reforming the military.
“No other role carries the actual authority to combat procurement corruption, complete the army’s transformation, plan and execute asymmetric operations against the enemy, root out a culture of lies and unaccountability within the system, or finish the initiatives our team has already started at the defense ministry,” he said.
He reiterated his earlier statement that he does not care much for official titles, but the impact he can have on the war against Russia’s invasion.
“For me, it was never about the title or status – it has only ever been about having a real impact on the outcome and bringing Ukraine closer to victory,” he added.
Zelensky’s proposal for Fedorov
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.
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.
Fedorov became the defense minister in January after his previous role as digital transformation minister, with his brief, six-month tenure at the defense ministry coinciding with the removal of Starlink for Russian troops and Kyiv’s intensified drone campaign against Russian oil and logistics.
In early July, Ukraine’s General Staff estimated that 43% of Russian oil refining capacity was crippled by Ukrainian strikes.
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