Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with his new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha. Alamy Live News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with his new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha. Alamy Live News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with his new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha. Alamy Live News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with his new Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha. Alamy Live News

Zelenskyy's nominee to lead Foreign Ministry approved amid reshuffle backlash


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s nominee to lead the Foreign Ministry was approved by the country's parliament on Thursday as part of an effort to inject "new energy" into the country’s war effort following intensified Russian attacks.

Andrii Sybiha, a senior diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey who was previously the department's Deputy, will succeed Dmytro Kuleba, one of Ukraine’s most internationally known figures.

Mr Kuleba was among six ministers to submit their resignations on Wednesday evening. Reports suggest he was probably let go due to a "clash" with Mr Zelenskyy’s head of office, Andriy Yermak.

The reshuffle has come in for criticism by some who say the new names are just old faces reshuffled.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a Holos Party MP, wrote in a post on Facebook: “Zelenskyy says new energy is needed, but have you noticed that in this 'great re-introduced order' there is still no new person in sight?"

"All the changes are just a rotation among people who are already" in government, he added.

Ukraine's former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba. AFP
Ukraine's former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba. AFP

A US administration official, speaking anonymously to Politico, said: “there may be reasons for concern" about the shakeup.

Ukraine’s top envoy to Turkey from 2016 to 2021, Mr Sybiha went on to work in Mr Zelenskyy’s office under Mr Yermak.

Mr Yermak often overshadowed Mr Kuleba on issues including bilateral security guarantees, relations with the US and seeking support from the Global South.

As he climbed the diplomatic ranks in Kyiv, Mr Sybiha also did two stints at the Ukrainian embassy in Poland, one of Ukraine’s strongest backers in its war against Russia.

Parliament is due to vote on nine candidates to fill vacant cabinet seats.

Other top ministerial positions include those of infrastructure, agriculture and regional policy chiefs, which have been vacant for months.

Mr Zelenskyy’s five-year mandate expired in May. He remains in power under the provisions of martial law.

The reshuffle, the biggest since the full-scale war began in 2022, has left Ukraine’s Nato allies guessing. They were also caught off-guard by last month’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

A damaged monument to the Soviet Union's founder Vladimir Lenin stands in a central square in Sudzha, in the Kursk region of Russia. AP
A damaged monument to the Soviet Union's founder Vladimir Lenin stands in a central square in Sudzha, in the Kursk region of Russia. AP

Mr Sybiha will lead diplomatic efforts as Moscow’s invasion reaches a crucial point, with Russian missiles targeting Kyiv’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold back a Russian offensive in the east and the war-battered nation is urgently seeking air-defense systems from allies to protect civilians.

"We need new energy today, and these steps are related only to the strengthening of our state in different directions," Mr Zelenskyy told media during a joint news conference with the visiting Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris on Wednesday.

Analysts said the government reset had been planned for some time but was postponed while Mr Zelenskyy focused on talks with Kyiv's Western partners to secure military and financial aid.

"This is a planned personnel overhaul of the government," said Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst.

"Now half of the government will be renewed. This is Mr Zelenskyy's style. He believes that new ministers bring new energy, new approaches, work more actively. He expects exactly this effect."

Mr Fesenko did not expect a major foreign policy change following Mr Kuleba's expected dismissal.

The Kremlin said that government changes in Ukraine would not affect a peace negotiation process in any way, although such talks appear a distant prospect at this stage.

The next few months are vital for Mr Zelenskyy as he seeks to win more support from the West and seize back the initiative in the war against Russia after its invasion in February 2022.

Later this month Mr Zelenskyy will travel to the US where he hopes to present a "victory plan" to President Joe Biden, a key ally.

Russian forces are advancing in the east of Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops have made an incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks in recent weeks, while Ukraine launched a mass drone attack on Russia's energy infrastructure over the weekend.

On Tuesday at least 50 people, including soldiers, were killed by two missiles in the central Ukrainian town of Poltava in the deadliest single attack of the war this year.

Analysts say Mr Zelenskyy's talent pool is limited, and expect some outgoing ministers to be reappointed to new roles.

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While you're here
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Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

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  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Updated: September 05, 2024, 2:57 PM`