Fedorov Rejects New Role, Wants Defense Ministry Back

According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to find a new role for former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has rejected every position offered to him. According to the Unian news agency, Fedorov wants to return as defense minister.

Citing senior Ukrainian officials, the newspaper reported that Zelensky last weekend offered Fedorov a senior position on the National Security and Defense Council with direct access to the president.

The proposed role would involve overseeing defense innovation, military reform, the development of defense technologies, long-range weapons production and efforts to attract foreign investment into Ukraine's defense industry.

According to the report, Zelensky has spent the past several days in intensive talks with military commanders and political advisers in an effort to resolve the standoff. Despite a roughly six-hour meeting with the president and several alternative offers, Fedorov has so far rejected every proposal.

(mja)