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July 21 () –
Oleksander Tkachenko has submitted his resignation as Ukraine’s Education Minister after a “wave of misunderstandings” with President Volodimir Zelensky, who on Thursday called for his dismissal and redistribution of funds from his portfolio to Defense.
Tkachenko has informed this Friday in his Telegram account that on Thursday he presented his resignation letter to Prime Minister Denis Shmigal, given the “wave of misunderstandings about the importance of culture during the war” and has stated that he was “surprised” by Zelensky’s statements on the same subject.
“Culture during the war is important because it is a war not only for territories, but for people, and people are our memory, history, language, creativity, despite the war, heritage and past for the sake of the future. “, has defended Tkachenko.
“Both private and budgetary funds during the war for culture are no less important than drones, because culture is the shield of our identity and our borders,” he has highlighted.
Tkachenko, who was already rejected for a first resignation on November 11, 2021, had been Minister of Culture since June 2020. On Thursday, President Zelenski asked Prime Minister Shmigal to consider his dismissal.
“Museums, cultural centers, symbols, television programs: all this is important, but now there are other priorities (…) Everyone understands what is at stake. The cobblestones, the decoration of the cities, the fountains, can wait. Victory comes first,” justified the Ukrainian president.
