Blinken thanks his Ukrainian counterpart for his “leadership” against Russia after his resignation

September 5 () –

US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken on Wednesday thanked his Ukrainian counterpart, Dimitro Kuleba — who resigned earlier in the day — for the leadership he has shown in defending his country against Russia’s invasion.

“Blinken spoke by phone today with Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba to thank him for his tireless leadership of Ukraine’s foreign policy through historic challenges, especially as the world rallied around the defense of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion,” the State Department said in a statement.

He also expressed his gratitude for the “close collaboration” with the United States through various commitments, and stressed that Washington will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian troops.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said during a press conference that the cabinet change in Ukraine “will not change the way the United States interacts” with Ukrainian authorities.

The spokesman for the parliamentary bloc of the ruling Servant of the People party, David Arajamia, reported on his Telegram channel that the party has already decided on the names of the new cabinet during a meeting attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky himself, although this is not an official announcement.

The Foreign Ministry will now be headed by Andrii Sybiga. The other members of the new government are Olga Stefanishyna (Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration), German Smetanin (Industry and Trade Minister), Mykola Tochytsyi (Culture and Information Policy Minister), Vitaliy Koval (Agriculture Minister), Natalia Kalmykova (Veterinary Minister), Svitlana Hrynchuk (Ecology Minister), Matviy Bidnyi (Youth Minister), Oleksey Kuleba (Deputy Prime Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development), Iryna Vereshchuk (Deputy Head of the Presidential Cabinet for Specialists) and Oleksander Kamyshin (In charge of Arms and Infrastructure at the Presidential Office).

In addition, the creation of a provisional ministry in charge of the return of Ukrainians abroad is being considered, although the names of various candidates are still being discussed.

This reshuffle will take place at one of the worst moments of the conflict so far this year, with Russian forces resuming their offensive on energy facilities on the eve of winter, and after one of the deadliest attacks in recent months, Tuesday’s in Poltava, in northeastern Ukraine, which left at least fifty dead.