Ukrainian Defense Minister Snubs Zelenskyy, Demands Total Control Amid War
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Mykhailo Fedorov refuses Zelenskyy's offer of a deputy prime minister post, insisting on absolute authority as defense minister and criticizing the military establishment.
Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly rejected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer of a deputy prime minister position for military innovation, making it clear he will accept nothing less than the defense ministry itself. Fedorov, removed from office after just six months, asserted that only the defense minister, the president, and the chief of the armed forces have the power to determine the war’s outcome—an audacious claim that sidelines the rest of the government.
Fedorov argued that no other post would give him the sweeping authority he desires to tackle procurement corruption, overhaul the army, and launch asymmetric operations against Russia. He insisted on finishing his own reforms, started in January, which included bolstering air defenses, holding the front line, and striking at Russia’s economy with long-range attacks—an agenda that prioritizes escalation and centralized control.
Zelenskyy’s attempt to keep Fedorov in a different cabinet role was rebuffed, with Fedorov blaming his departure on a strained relationship with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, whom he disparaged as part of the military’s old guard. Fedorov’s actions reflect a refusal to cooperate and a demand for unchecked power at a critical moment for Ukraine.