Ousted Ukrainian defence minister refuses any other role in Zelenskyy’s government – as it happened

Fedorov Declines Alternative Positions as Zelenskyy Faces Pressure for Reinstatement

Wanderstayfinder.com – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to face mounting demands to bring back his recently dismissed defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. Following Fedorov’s public declaration that he would not accept any position other than his former role, the situation has intensified considerably. Fedorov communicated his stance clearly to journalists, emphasizing that only the defence ministry portfolio provides sufficient power to address critical issues.

“No other role carries the actual authority to combat procurement corruption, complete the army’s transformation, plan and execute asymmetric operations against the enemy,” Fedorov stated in an official message distributed to reporters and subsequently cited by Reuters news agency.

The dismissal of Fedorov, which occurred just last week, triggered uncommon demonstrations during wartime in Ukrainian streets. His supporters have pledged to maintain these protests until Fedorov regains his original ministerial position. This development represents a significant moment in Ukraine’s ongoing political landscape as the conflict continues.

EU Implements Comprehensive Sanctions Package

Concurrently, the European Union has finalized its twenty-first collection of sanctions targeting Russia. This package experienced delays due to Greece’s insistence on securing a controversial concession regarding liquefied natural gas exports. The timing of this announcement coincided with Fedorov’s statement, creating a busy news cycle for international observers.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that these measures will “continue to weaken the economic foundations of Russia’s war effort,” while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared they were “hitting Putin where it hurts most.”

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, expressed approval of the new sanctions, noting that “every new sanction decision strengthens Europe’s security and makes Russia pay a proper price for its war of aggression.” The timing proved particularly significant as American and Russian foreign ministers engaged in bilateral discussions during an Asian summit, addressing the Russian invasion of Ukraine among other topics.

Sanctions Details and Economic Impact

The EU characterizes this as the “single largest sanctions package” implemented to date, targeting banking institutions, cryptocurrency platforms, and oil sectors. The comprehensive measures encompass 218 individuals and corporate entities, alongside 94 financial institutions including Moscow’s stock exchange. Notably, the package includes a contentious exemption allowing Greece to maintain liquid natural gas transportation to nations outside the European Union.

Kaja Kallas described the sanctions as the “largest round in four years, totalling 218 listings,” while EU officials announced that “Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world, more than Iran.”

The twenty-first sanctions round aims to sustain economic pressure through an extension of the existing Russian oil price cap, currently set at $44.7 per barrel. This figure represents approximately $20 below the rolling average rate for Ural oil since the beginning of the Iran conflict, which stood at $65.3. With Donald Trump’s renewed criticisms of Iran driving oil prices past $100 per barrel on Thursday, observers have questioned whether the price cap might encourage ghost tankers rather than deter them.

Financial Network Restrictions and Future Outlook

The EU projects that Moscow accumulated an $11 billion windfall from the Iran conflict, which fueled price increases during April and May. European officials maintain that market fluctuations observed since February should validate their price cap strategy over subsequent months.

“Freezing the oil price cap adjustment for a year, so that the Russian war machine does not benefit from market shocks,” Ursula von der Leyen explained on Thursday morning regarding the twenty-first sanctions round.

Financial restrictions affect 90 banks collectively, representing an estimated 50 percent of Russia’s financial network. The EU intends to disconnect 33 Russian banks from European funds by removing them from the Swift international transactions system. Additional measures target a Mongolian bank and two Russian spin-off institutions in India, which are alleged to facilitate sanctions circumvention.

Additional Developments and Blog Closure

Meanwhile, Ireland’s prime minister Micheál Martin encountered challenging questions concerning a prominent Irish metals refinery while visiting Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy. Fedorov’s supporters remain committed to their campaign, and the blog will close for the day following these developments.

If readers have tips, comments, or suggestions, they may contact the correspondent at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com. Additional coverage can be found on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.